Mark Stanforth

Stanforth studied at South Dakota State University, before transferring to the University of South Dakota–Springfield, graduating in 1972.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81298447/mark-stanforth-bio/| title=Urge to run Stanforth's moving force| work=Argus Leader|via=Newspapers.com| date=June 9, 1978| page=12| accessdate=July 12, 2021}} At USD-Springfield, he participated in cross country running and basketball, and was twice the college's athlete of the year. After graduating, he joined the United States Army and became a finance specialist with the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.[https://www.newspapers.com/image/271965915/ "Stanforth Sets Six-Mile Mark"], Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu., Hawaii, volume 64, number 143, May 23, 1975, page D-3. {{subscription required}} He later worked in a bank in Phoenix.{{cite news |last=Kiley |first=Mike |date=September 25, 1978 |title=Arizona bank employe wins Daley Marathon |at=section 5, page 1 |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43703635/arizona_bank_employe_sic_wins_daley/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=July 12, 2021}} From January 1976 to August 1977, he attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota and received a masters degree in physical education.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Stanforth ran his first marathon in 1973. While in the Army, he ran the 1974 Boston Marathon, finishing 75th. He competed in the 1975 Honolulu Marathon, where he missed the 1976 Summer Olympics qualification time by 31 seconds. The same year, he won a King Kamehameha I Day {{convert|4.5|mi|km}} kukini race in Hawaii,{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81299771/1975-kukini/| title=Stanforth wins the Kukini| work=The Honolulu Advertiser| via=Newspapers.com| date=June 12, 1975| page=56|accessdate=July 12, 2021}} and set a course record in a {{convert|6|mi|km}} race at Cooke Field, the stadium of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81300143/cooke-field-1975/| title=Albritton heaves it 67'9 1/2| work=The Honolulu Advertiser| via=Newspapers.com| date=March 26, 1975| page=89|accessdate=July 12, 2021}}

In 1978, Stanforth moved to Phoenix, Arizona to attempt to qualify for the 1980 Summer Olympics. He won the 1978 Chicago Marathon (also known as the Mayor Daley Marathon) in a time of 2:19:20.{{cite magazine| url=https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20824969/chicago-marathon-at-a-glance/| title=Chicago Marathon at a Glance| magazine=Runner's World| date=September 23, 2009| accessdate=July 12, 2021}}{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81297770/1978-chicago-marathon-short-summary/| title=Stanforth captures Daley marathon| work=Wisconsin State Journal| via=Newspapers.com| date=September 25, 1978| page=20| accessdate=July 12, 2021}} The race was run in a peak temperature of over {{convert|80|F|C}},{{cite news| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2002-09-20-0209200230-story.html| title=The second marathon: Sept. 24, 1978| work=Chicago Tribune| date=September 20, 2002| accessdate=July 12, 2021}} and Stanforth caught the leaders around {{convert|20|mi|km}} into the race as they were struggling with the heat more than him.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81297997/stanforth-1978-chicago-marathon/| title=Mayor Daley run has state look| work=Rapid City Journal|via=Newspapers.com| date=September 25, 1978| page=12| accessdate=July 12, 2021}} He then passed 1977 winner Dan Cloeter, and won the race by over five minutes. He ran the last few miles with blisters on his feet. It was Stanforth's sixth competitive marathon event, and his third victory. Later in the year, he came second at the Phoenix Marathon in a personal best time of 2:17:14. Stanforth was in the leading group of three runners, before Arizonan Walter Johnson broke away {{convert|20|mi|km}} into the race. Stanforth finished over a minute behind Johnson.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81299332/1978-phoenix-marathon/| title=Confusion gone at marathon's end| work=The Arizona Republic|via=Newspapers.com| date=December 3, 1978| page=100| accessdate=July 12, 2021}}

Stanforth was invited to the 1979 Chicago Marathon, but did not compete due to an injury.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81300253/1979-chicago-marathon-starters/| title=Marathon| work=Chicago Tribune| via=Newspapers.com| date=October 19, 1979| page=77| accessdate=July 12, 2021}} He competed in the US Marathon Trial Event for selected for the 1980 Summer Olympics. During the race, he became dehydrated, and eventually finished 124th out of 125 competitors. In 1981, he won a 10,000 metres race in Burke, South Dakota.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81299610/1981-burke-10k/| title=Stanforth won Burke road race| work=Rapid City Journal|via=Newspapers.com| date=April 1, 1981| page=25| accessdate=July 12, 2021}}

In 1977, Stanforth became a coach at USD-Springfield;{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81300431/stanforth-usd-coach/| title=Jackets ready to wear another crown?| work=Rapid City Journal|via=Newspapers.com| date=September 25, 1978| page=11| accessdate=July 12, 2021}} he quit the role when he moved to Phoenix. He later worked as a coach at Glendale Community College in Arizona.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81300720/stanforth-glendale-coach/| title=PAU Broncs sign three thinclads| work=The Monitor| via=Newspapers.com| date=August 6, 1986| page=15| accessdate=July 12, 2021}} As of 2002, he was a coach of the United States Air Force Academy athletics team. He was the head coach of cross country and the assistant coach of track & field (responsible for Distance Runners) at the United States Air Force Academy. He was a four-time winner of the Conference Coach of the Year in Cross Country Award for the Western Athletic Conference and Mountain West Conference.{{Cite web | url=https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/cross-country/roster/coaches/mark-stanforth/857 | title=Mark Stanforth - Cross Country Coach }}

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Category:1949 births

Category:Living people

Category:American male marathon runners

Category:Chicago Marathon male winners

Category:University of South Dakota–Springfield alumni

Category:United States Army soldiers

Category:American male cross country runners

Category:Northern State University alumni

Category:South Dakota State University alumni

Category:Air Force Falcons coaches

Category:20th-century American sportsmen