Henry Marsh (athlete)
Henry Dinwoodey Marsh (born March 15, 1954 in Boston, Massachusetts) is a retired runner from the United States, who made four U.S. Olympic teams and represented his native country in the men's 3,000 meter Steeplechase in three Summer Olympics, from 1976 through 1988.
Biography
Track & Field News ranked him the number one steeplechaser in the world for 1981, 1982, and 1985. Moreover, he was world ranked (i.e., top 10) in this event for 12 consecutive years, 1977-1988. Marsh broke the American Record for the steeplechase on four different occasions: 8:21.55 (July 5, 1977), 8:15.68 (June 28, 1980), 8:12.37 (August 17, 1983), and 8:09.17 (August 28, 1985); the last mark lasted almost 21 years until Daniel Lincoln ran 8:08.82 in Rome on July 14, 2006.[1][2]
During the 1984 Olympic Games, Marsh entered the event with a #2 world ranking. On race day for the 3,000 meter steeplechase finals, Marsh finished fourth (losing out on the bronze medal to teammate Brian Diemer by only 0.19 seconds), then collapsed to the track and was carried out of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on a gurney.
In 1985 Marsh joined the sub-4 minute group of milers with a 3:59.31 run at Bern, Switzerland on August 16.
Marsh was the American champion in the steeplechase nine times (1978, 1979, 1981–1987) and in 1983 received the Glenn Cunningham Award as the best distance runner in America.[3][4]
Marsh is a co-founder of MonaVie, a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, serving as executive vice-president and later as the company's Vice Chairman of the Board. He is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[5] He spent two years on mission in Brazil.[6] In a 2008, the Sacramento Bee noted that Marsh was a major financial supporter (two donations totalling $90,000) of Proposition 8, a California ballot initiative to eliminate same-sex marriage rights.[7]
Achievements
All results regarding 3000 metres steeplechase.
- 9-time US Champion 1978-1979, 1981-1987 (2nd in 1980)
- 2-time US Olympic Trials winner 1980 & 1984 (2nd in 1976 & 1988)
Representing  United States | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Tournament | Venue | Result | Time | |
| 1976 | Olympic Games | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | 10th | 8:23.99 | |
| 1979 | Pan American Games | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 1st | 8:43.6 | |
| World Cup | Montreal, Canada | 4th | 8:30.09 | ||
| 1981 | World Cup | Rome, Italy | DISQ | (8:19.61) | |
| 1983 | World Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 8th | 8:20.45 | |
| 1984 | Olympic Games | Los Angeles, California, United States | 4th | 8:14.25 | |
| 1985 | World Cup | Canberra, Australia | 2nd | 8:39.55 | |
| 1986 | Goodwill Games | Moscow, Russia | 2nd | 8:23.92 | |
| 1987 | Pan American Games | Indianapolis, United States | 2nd | 8:23.77 | |
| World Championships | Rome, Italy | 6th | 8:17.78 | ||
| 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | 6th | 8:14.39 | |
Notes:
- Marsh originally won the 1981 World Cup title but was disqualified for failing to clear the pneultimate water jump.
- The US Olympic trials of 1976-1988, were a separate event from the US Championships.
References
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ Mormon Olympians
- ↑
- ↑ "Biggest supporters of Prop 8". Sacramento Bee. November 13, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
External links
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Mariano Scartezzini |
Men's 3.000m Steeple Best Year Performance 1982 — 1983 |
Succeeded by Joseph Mahmoud |
| Preceded by Joseph Mahmoud |
Men's 3.000m Steeple Best Year Performance 1985 |
Succeeded by.svg.png){kind=small} William Van Dijck |
