Sydney Maree
Sydney Maree OIS is a former middle distance runner who competed at the international level in the 1980s. He was the first South African to run officially under 3:30 in the 1500m. He was born in Cullinan, South Africa, but later became a U.S. citizen, running for the United States in various competitions.
Running career
Maree attended Villanova University, where he was eight-time NCAA All American, including once in cross country, thrice indoors, and four times outdoors; two-time NCAA champion in the 1500 meters, distance medley relay and once in the 5000 meters. He also won the inaugural Fifth Avenue Mile in 1981 with 3:47.52, which was the course record for 43 years until Josh Kerr ran 3:44.3 in 2024.Maree's greatest success came in August 1983 when he broke Steve Ovett's world record over 1500 m at a meet in Cologne, clocking 3:31.24 min. Two years later, Maree set a new US record of 3:29.77 min; however, this was not a world record as a few weeks before Saïd Aouita had run 3:29.46. Maree was an excellent 5000-m runner, as well. In Oslo in 1985, he set a US record at 13:01.15 min. finishing just behind Aouita who set a world record.
Maree's personal bests include the aforementioned 3:29.77 for the 1500 meters, 3:48.83 for the mile, 4:54.20 in the 2000 meters, 7:33.37 for 3000 meters, and the previously mentioned American record of 13:01.15 in the 5000 meters. He was USA's runner in the 5000 meters at the 1987 IAAF [World Championships in Athletics] and the 1988 Olympic Games.