Ramona Pagel (born Ramona Ebert, November 10, 1961 in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

) is a retired American shot putter. She made four consecutive Olympic teams, 1984-1996, four IAAF World Championships and won a full set of medals in three showings at the Pan American Games. Her personal best put was 20.18 metres, achieved in June 1988 in

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...

. That mark was the American record for 25 years. The record was tied 23 years later by Jillian Camarena-Williams in 2011 and was finally beaten by Michelle Carter at the 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Two days before her record was beaten, Stamatia Scarvelis, coached by Pagel, won the Junior National Championship at the same meet. Ramona attended

Schurr High School Schurr High School is a public high school in Montebello, California, United States, a suburb in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Part of the Montebello Unified School District, it has an enrollment of approximately 3,500 students in grades 9- ...

Montebello, California Montebello (Italian for "Beautiful Mountain") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, located just east of East Los Angeles and southwest of San Gabriel Valley. It is an independent city. east of downtown Los Angeles. It ...

. In 1979, she placed 3rd in CIF California State Meet, throwing the 8 Lb. Shot 47' 5¼". Not only was that the third best in the competition, it was the third best in state history (in the 6 years that weight was thrown). The weight was changed to 4 Kg the following year. Her next school was Long Beach State, where she met and married

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California ...

and former Fullerton High School thrower Kent Pagel. He coached her throughout her career. She left LBSU in 1982 and transferred to

San Diego State University San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California. Founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system ...

, where she would ultimately complete her studies. Through her career, she was ranked in the top 10 American shot putters 16 years in a row, from 1981-1996, including the No. 1 ranking from 1985-1989. She also spent 8 years on the American Discus list, until back problems caused her to choose to focus on her best event. Pagel also collects Pooh bear dolls.

International competitions

References

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USATF bio
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pagel, Ramona 1961 births Living people Track and field athletes from Los Angeles Sportspeople from Montebello, California American female shot putters Olympic track and field athletes of the United States Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics 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 Athletes (track and field) at the 1991 Pan American Games Athletes (track and field) at the 1995 Pan American Games World Athletics Championships athletes for the United States San Diego State Aztecs women's track and field athletes Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field) Universiade bronze medalists for the United States Long Beach State Beach women's track and field athletes Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1995 Pan American Games