Mary Knisely (born Schilly; May 29, 1959) is a retired middle- and

long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires endurance, stamina as well as mental strength. Within e ...

from the United States. She set her personal best (8:42.84) in the women's

3000-meter run The 3000 metres or 3000-metre run is a track running event, also commonly known as the "3K" or "3K run", where 7.5 laps are run around an outdoor 400 m track, or 15 laps around a 200 m indoor track. It is debated whether the 3000m shoul ...

on 13 July 1987 at a meet in Nice. Knisely is a two-time US national champion in the 3000 m (1986 and 1987), and was the marathon national champion in 2001. She competed as a student at Concord High School. In 2008, the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame inducted Knisely. She competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials three times, was a gold medalist in the 3000 meters at the

1987 Pan American Games The 1987 Pan American Games, officially known as the X Pan American Games, was a major international multi-sport event held in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, on August 7–23, 1987. Over 4,300 athletes from 38 countries in the Americas c ...

, silver medalist in the IAAF World Cup 10,000 m, and was a member of the 1985 and 1987 gold medal winning U.S. teams at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. She placed third in the 3000 m at the

1986 IAAF Grand Prix Final The 1986 IAAF Grand Prix Final was the second edition of the season-ending competition for the IAAF Grand Prix track and field circuit, organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It was held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rom ...

and second in the 5000 m at the

1987 IAAF Grand Prix Final The 1987 IAAF Grand Prix Final was the third edition of the season-ending competition for the IAAF Grand Prix track and field circuit, organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It was held on 11 September at the King Bau ...

. She holds personal records of: 2:02 min (800 m) 4:05 (1500 m), 8:41 (3000 m), 15:12 (5000 m), 32:19 (10,000 m), and 2:35:11 (marathon).

References

trackfield.brinkster
1959 births Living people Sportspeople from Wilmington, Delaware Track and field athletes from Delaware American female middle-distance runners American female long-distance runners American female cross country runners Pan American Games track and field athletes for the United States Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States Pan American Games medalists in athletics (track and field) Athletes (track and field) at the 1987 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games {{US-longdistance-athletics-bio-stub