Kristy Johnston (born 3 June 1965) is a retired American marathoner. Johnson started her athletic career in 1986 and won her only

World Marathon Majors The World Marathon Majors (WMM) (known for sponsorship reasons as the Abbott World Marathon Majors) is a championship-style competition for marathon runners that started in 2006. A points-based competition founded on six major marathon races recog ...

at the 1994 Chicago Marathon. She reappeared at Chicago from 1995 to 2000 and was the Chicago women's runner-up in 1996. Outside of Chicago, Johnston ran at the

United States Olympic Trials The United States Olympic Trials are competitions held in certain sports to select the United States' participants in those sports at the Olympic Games. These events include: * United States Olympic Trials (curling) * United States Olympic Trials (d ...

from 1992 to 2000. After retiring from athletics in 2000, Johnston became a middle school language arts teacher in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Early life and education

Johnston was born on 3 June 1965 in Coos Bay, Oregon. After attending Marshfield High School, she graduated from an English program at

Portland College Portland College is an education establishment near Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire. It is situated in of Sherwood Forest approximately south of the town of Mansfield. Portland College has around 270 students aged between 16 and 60. It was es ...

in 1988.

Career

Johnston began running in 1986 at a

5K run The 5K run is a long-distance road running competition over a distance of . Also referred to as the 5K road race, 5 km, or simply 5K, it is the shortest of the most common road running distances. It is usually distinguished from the 5000 met ...

in Portland, Oregon. During her career, Johnston ran in various lengths of marathons ranging from 3 kilometre runs to full marathons. Her first win in a full marathon came at the 1993

Houston Marathon The Houston Marathon is an annual marathon usually held every January in Houston, Texas, United States, since 1972. With thousands of runners and spectators, it is the largest single day sporting event in the city. It is run concurrently wi ...

with a time of 2:29:05. The following year, Johnston won her only

at the 1994 Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:31:34. Before competing at the 1995 Chicago Marathon, Johnston told the ''Daily Herald Suburban Chicago'' that she had "almost quit running altogether before last year's Chicago marathon" due to a long term back injury. Johnston continued to reappear at the Chicago Marathon from 1995 to 2000 and had multiple top 8 finishes, which included second place in 1996. Outside of Chicago, Johnston competed at the

consecutively from 1992 to 2000. After reaching the semi-finals in 1992, Johnston was fifth in the 1996 Olympic Trials and second place at the 2000 Olympic Trials. After ending her athletic career in 2000, Johnston began teaching language arts to students at a middle school in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Achievements

Awards and honors

Johnston was inducted into the Marshfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

Personal life

Johnston married her coach

Chris Fox Chris Fox (born July 30, 1974) is a retired American soccer Defender (association football), defender who played professionally in the NPSL II, National Professional Soccer League and USL First Division. Fox attended Brown University, where he ...

in 1998.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Kristy 1965 births American female marathon runners Chicago Marathon female winners Living people Sportspeople from Martinsburg, West Virginia 21st-century American women