Kathy Gibbons


Kathy Gibbons was a world record holder in the women's 10,000 meters.

Early life

Gibbons attended Alhambra High School Phoenix, Arizona, then Northern Arizona University, and then Arizona State University, where she completed a master's degree in exercise physiology.

Athletics career

Gibbons recorded one world record in the women's 10,000 metres of 34:51.0 on 12 June 1971 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Gibbons is also credited with the first world best time in the Half [marathon world record progression|women's half marathon]. She recorded a time of 1:23:56 in Phoenix, Arizona on the 7 March 1971.
Gibbons achieved the following results at the United States outdoor track and field championships:
Gibbons was also champion at the mile in the 1970 USA [Indoor Track and Field Championships|1970 United States indoor championships].

Later life and death

After college, Gibbons was a teacher and coach at Glendale [Community College (Arizona)|Glendale Community College] in Glendale, Arizona and then a coach at the University of Colorado.
Gibbons was killed in 1982 after being struck by a vehicle while running in Colorado.
In 1982, the Kathy Gibbons Jackson Memorial Scholarship was established in her honor at Arizona State University.
In 1987, Gibbons was elected to the Arizona [Sports Hall of Fame].
In 2013, Gibbons was elected to the Phoenix 10K and Marathon Hall of Fame.