Natasha Cockram
{{Short description|Welsh marathon runner (born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Natasha Cockram
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|11|12|df=y}}
| nationality = Welsh
| alma_mater = University of Tulsa
| sport = Marathon running
}}
Natasha Cockram (born 12 November 1992) is a Welsh marathon runner.
Early life
Cockram is from Cwmbran, Wales.{{cite web |title=Natasha Cockram - Track and Field |url=https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/natasha-cockram/299 |website=University of Tulsa Athletics |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Lemire |first=Joe |date=26 January 2021 |title=Long-Distance Runner Natasha Cockram: 'I Often Think of the Marathon as Just a Six-Mile Race' |work=SportTechie |url=https://www.sporttechie.com/natasha-cockram-long-distance-runner-olympics |access-date=12 July 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307032440/https://sporttechie.com/natasha-cockram-long-distance-runner-olympics |url-status=live}}
She attended Croesyceiliog Comprehensive before deciding to attend the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, United States from 2012 to 2015, competing in cross country.{{Cite news |last=Henderson |first=Jason |date=25 March 2021 |title=Natasha Cockram has Tokyo in her sights |work=Athletics Weekly |url=https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-news/natasha-cockram-has-tokyo-in-her-sights-1039942753/ |access-date=12 July 2021 |archive-date=25 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325131533/https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-news/natasha-cockram-has-tokyo-in-her-sights-1039942753/ |url-status=live}} She was accepted into the medical school at the University of South Carolina, but declined the place to focus on running.
Running
In 2018, Cockram came first in the women's category of the inaugural 2018 Newport Marathon with a time of 02:44:58.{{Cite news |date=29 April 2018 |title=Newport's first marathon is an 'overwhelming success' |work=South Wales Argus |publisher=Newsquest |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/16192567.newports-first-marathon-overwhelming-success/ |access-date=12 July 2021 |archive-date=5 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205224134/https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/16192567.newports-first-marathon-overwhelming-success/ |url-status=live}}
In 2019, Cockram finished fifth in the Dublin Marathon, setting a new Welsh women's record with a time of 02:30:50.{{Cite news |date=28 October 2019 |title=Natasha Cockram sets new Welsh women's marathon record |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/50213531 |access-date=11 July 2021 |archive-date=30 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030185543/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/50213531 |url-status=live}} The previous record was held by Susan Tooby with a time of 02:31:33 at the 1988 Summer Olympics. This was despite a horse kicking her on the eve of the race.{{Cite news |date=29 October 2019 |title=Natasha Cockram: Welsh runner breaks national record despite horse kick |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/50227755 |access-date=12 July 2021 |archive-date=30 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030134048/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/50227755 |url-status=live}}
Cockram finished 13th in the 2020 London Marathon, with a time of 02:33:19, 3 minutes and 49 seconds outside of the qualifying time for the Olympic Games. She was the top finishing Briton at the race.{{Cite news |date=5 October 2020 |title=Natasha Cockram: New British marathon champion targets Tokyo Olympics |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/54416063 |access-date=11 July 2021 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116161624/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/54416063 |url-status=live}} She came second at the 2020 Olympics marathon trial, slower than the Olympic qualifying time.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/56537269 |title=GB Marathon Trials: Chris Thompson and Stephanie Davis take Tokyo Olympics spots |work=BBC Sport |date=26 March 2021 |accessdate=26 March 2021 |archive-date=26 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326160914/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/56537269 |url-status=live}} In June 2021, UK Athletics published its list of athletes for the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics, and Cockram was not selected.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/a-further-65-athletes-nominated-to-represent-team-gb-at-the-2020-tokyo-olympic-games/ |title=A FURTHER 65 ATHLETES NOMINATED TO REPRESENT TEAM GB AT THE 2020 TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES |publisher=UK Athletics |date=29 June 2021 |accessdate=29 June 2021 |archive-date=29 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629121108/https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/a-further-65-athletes-nominated-to-represent-team-gb-at-the-2020-tokyo-olympic-games/ |url-status=live}}
In 2021, Cockram won the Norwich Half Marathon, with a time of 01:16:31.{{Cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Mark |date=13 June 2021 |title=Norwich Half: Cockram targeting marathon after Norwich Half victory |work=Eastern Daily Press |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-half-marathon-2021-womens-race-report-8054666 |access-date=12 July 2021 |archive-date=14 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614040602/https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-half-marathon-2021-womens-race-report-8054666 |url-status=live}} She won the Los Angeles Marathon on 7 November 2021, with a time of 02:33:17.{{Cite tweet |number=1457397844084625411 |user=lamarathon |title=Natasha Cockram (UK/Wales) is the 2021 women’s Los Angeles Marathon champion in 2:33:17! Congrats Natasha on an amazing race! |author=Los Angeles Marathon}}
In December 2022 Cockram ran 2:26:14 at the Valencia Marathon, placing her eleventh on the all-time British list.{{Cite web |url=https://athleticsweekly.com/event-reports/stunning-marathon-times-from-kiptum-and-beriso-in-valencia-1039963269/ |title=Stunning marathon times from Kiptum and Beriso in Valencia |website=Athletics Weekly}}
Personal life
In 2020, Cockram moved to Norfolk, England.{{Cite news |last=Chapman |first=Thomas |date=5 October 2020 |title=Runner from Norfolk wins British women's title at London Marathon |work=Eastern Daily Press |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/natasha-cockram-wins-london-marathon-british-title-norfolk-6390638 |access-date=11 July 2021 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711232714/https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/natasha-cockram-wins-london-marathon-british-title-norfolk-6390638 |url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{World Athletics|great-britain-ni/natasha-cockram-14274733}}
- [https://www.welshathletics.org/en/page/natasha-cockram Natasha Cockram] at Welsh Athletics
- {{Team Wales|natasha-cockram}}
- {{2022 Commonwealth Games profile|60039}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cockram, Natasha}}
Category:Welsh female long-distance runners
Category:British female long-distance runners
Category:Welsh female marathon runners
Category:British female marathon runners
Category:Commonwealth Games athletes for Wales
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Category:Tulsa Golden Hurricane women's track and field athletes
Category:Sportspeople from Cwmbran