Sylvia Mosqueda
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Mosqueda is an American long distance runner notable for hard front running over an extended career at an elite level.
she excelled in both Cross Country and Track, she then went to East Los Angeles College
where she not only won the 800, 1500 and 5000, but set Community College
records that have lasted over 20 years. and won the California
Community College Cross Country Championships in record time. She first found national attention by accident, using the 1986 Los Angeles Marathon
as a training run. The televised race focused on this unknown runner leading the way, far ahead of favorite Nancy Ditz
, then suddenly dropping out almost 20 miles into the race. She had previously won the Run Across Los Angeles 10 mile race in similar fashion, just because it fell between her college seasons. Due to the notoriety from the previous year, Mosqueda again ran the 1987 L.A. Marathon, this time finishing the race in 2:37:46, good for 2nd place overall. That same year she also won the Philadelphia Distance Run Half-Marathon in 1:10:47. She was named California College Athletic Association "Female Athlete of the Year" for 1987-1988.
Next, Mosqueda went to Cal State Los Angeles, where she won the 1987 NCAA Cross Country Championship and at the 1988 NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
s won the 10,000 metres title, setting the NCAA national record of 32:28.57 in the process. She was named the 1987 "Billie Jean King Woman of the Year. In 2007, she was selected into the Cal State L.A. Hall of Fame
where she did not run at the same level, finishing 12th in the heats. In 1992, she again made the Olympic Trials in the 10000 metres, just missing the team by finishing in the deadly fourth place. 1996 looked to be her year. She qualified for the 10000 metres in her personal record of 31:54.03, set in the cool evening at the Mt. SAC Relays
and was leading the Olympic Trials 10000 metres deep into the race before succumbing to the Atlanta heat and humidity, not finishing. In 2000, she made the Olympic Trials in the 10000 meters, finishing in a non-qualifying sixth place. At age 38, she again qualified for the 10000 metres at the 2004 Olympic trials, her fifth in a row. Earlier she also ran in the Marathon
Olympic trials.
distance, where she won the 2001 National Championships. She was runner up in 2000,. Those results put her on the US National team at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. She had further Half Marathon victories in the Austin Half Marathon and the America's Finest City Half Marathon. She set her personal record of 2:33:47 in the Marathon at the New York City Marathon
in 2002. Along with a 2:36:38 at the Los Angeles Marathon, that brought her to number 4 on the US rankings that year. She also holds the course record at the 3M Half Marathon.
, finishing 42nd in the "Long Race" and taking a team silver medal.
In 1997 she set the still standing course record on the difficult Twilight's Last Gleaming Cross Country Challenge
.
In 2007 she was named head coach of the Los Angeles City College
Track and Cross Country teams That same year she was named "W40 Masters Age Division Runner of the Year" following Masters wins at the Cooper River Bridge Run and the Gate River Run and a second place showing at the Peachtree Road Race
.
In 2009 she won the Masters Division of the prestigious Carlsbad 5000
In her spare time, she enjoys salsa dancing.http://www.usatf.org/news/showrelease.asp?article=/news/releases/2004-03-29-2.xml
Early Success
First as a high school athlete at San Gabriel High SchoolSan Gabriel High School
San Gabriel High School is a secondary school in the Alhambra Unified School District. The school is located at 801 S Ramona St, San Gabriel, CA 91776....
she excelled in both Cross Country and Track, she then went to East Los Angeles College
East Los Angeles College
East Los Angeles College is a community college of the Los Angeles Community College District in the Los Angeles suburb of Monterey Park. Fourteen communities comprise its primary service area...
where she not only won the 800, 1500 and 5000, but set Community College
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
records that have lasted over 20 years. and won the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Community College Cross Country Championships in record time. She first found national attention by accident, using the 1986 Los Angeles Marathon
Los Angeles Marathon
The Honda LA Marathon is an annual running event held each spring in Los Angeles, California. The 26.219 mile footrace, inspired by the success of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, has been contested every year since 1986...
as a training run. The televised race focused on this unknown runner leading the way, far ahead of favorite Nancy Ditz
Nancy Ditz
Nancy Jane Ditz-Mosbacher is a former American long-distance runner who is a United States national champion in the marathon. Ditz competed in the marathon at the 1988 Summer Olympics....
, then suddenly dropping out almost 20 miles into the race. She had previously won the Run Across Los Angeles 10 mile race in similar fashion, just because it fell between her college seasons. Due to the notoriety from the previous year, Mosqueda again ran the 1987 L.A. Marathon, this time finishing the race in 2:37:46, good for 2nd place overall. That same year she also won the Philadelphia Distance Run Half-Marathon in 1:10:47. She was named California College Athletic Association "Female Athlete of the Year" for 1987-1988.
Next, Mosqueda went to Cal State Los Angeles, where she won the 1987 NCAA Cross Country Championship and at the 1988 NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA team champions for Women's Outdoor Track and Field-By school:-See also:*AIAW Intercollegiate Women's Outdoor Track and Field Champions*NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship*NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship...
s won the 10,000 metres title, setting the NCAA national record of 32:28.57 in the process. She was named the 1987 "Billie Jean King Woman of the Year. In 2007, she was selected into the Cal State L.A. Hall of Fame
Olympic Trials
Qualified by her L.A. Marathon run, she ran in the 1988 Olympic Marathon trials, darting to a minute and a half lead in the early stages. She paid the price for the early pace, being swallowed by the pack and dropping out exhausted at 18 miles. Her NCAA victory a few weeks later qualified her for the 10000 metres at the US Olympic TrialsUnited States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
where she did not run at the same level, finishing 12th in the heats. In 1992, she again made the Olympic Trials in the 10000 metres, just missing the team by finishing in the deadly fourth place. 1996 looked to be her year. She qualified for the 10000 metres in her personal record of 31:54.03, set in the cool evening at the Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. SAC Relays
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The relays, held in April each year, were started by then track coach Hilmer Lodge in 1959. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of...
and was leading the Olympic Trials 10000 metres deep into the race before succumbing to the Atlanta heat and humidity, not finishing. In 2000, she made the Olympic Trials in the 10000 meters, finishing in a non-qualifying sixth place. At age 38, she again qualified for the 10000 metres at the 2004 Olympic trials, her fifth in a row. Earlier she also ran in the Marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
Olympic trials.
Road Racing
Sylvia has found her best success at the Half MarathonHalf marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
distance, where she won the 2001 National Championships. She was runner up in 2000,. Those results put her on the US National team at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. She had further Half Marathon victories in the Austin Half Marathon and the America's Finest City Half Marathon. She set her personal record of 2:33:47 in the Marathon at the New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
in 2002. Along with a 2:36:38 at the Los Angeles Marathon, that brought her to number 4 on the US rankings that year. She also holds the course record at the 3M Half Marathon.
Cross Country
She was on the US squad for the 1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 20th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on March 21, 1992 in Boston, United States.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :**...
, finishing 42nd in the "Long Race" and taking a team silver medal.
In 1997 she set the still standing course record on the difficult Twilight's Last Gleaming Cross Country Challenge
Twilight's Last Gleaming Cross Country Challenge
Twilight's Last Gleaming Cross Country Challenge is a four mile, annual cross country style running race. It is held on the same course, in and around Arroyo Verde Park, annually on the last Saturday in October, starting at 5 p.m. In 2011, the race was held on October 29...
.
Masters career
In 2006 she joined the all female See Jane Run team, which has won numerous open national championships with a senior group of elite women.In 2007 she was named head coach of the Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
Track and Cross Country teams That same year she was named "W40 Masters Age Division Runner of the Year" following Masters wins at the Cooper River Bridge Run and the Gate River Run and a second place showing at the Peachtree Road Race
Peachtree Road Race
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race 10K is a 10 kilometer road race held annually in Atlanta, Georgia on July 4, Independence Day. The Peachtree Road Race was until recently the world's largest 10 kilometer race , a title it has held since the late 1970s...
.
In 2009 she won the Masters Division of the prestigious Carlsbad 5000
Carlsbad 5000
The Carlsbad 5000 is an annual road running event over which is typically held in April in Carlsbad, California, United States.The event was first held in 1986 and is organized by the Competitor Group...
In her spare time, she enjoys salsa dancing.http://www.usatf.org/news/showrelease.asp?article=/news/releases/2004-03-29-2.xml
Achievements
- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
Representing the 2003 World Championships 2003 World Championships in AthleticsThe 9th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held from 23 August to 31 August 2003 in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.-Track:...Paris, France — DNF