Legally blind U.S.
runner wins women's 1500 metres
Gene Cherry (Reuters)
28 July 1999 – Winnipeg - Marla Runyan has trouble reading and seeing faces, but she found the finish line with no problems Wednesday night at the Pan American Games.
The legally blind U.S. runner lunged ahead of Canadian Leah Pells at the last moment to win the women's 1500 metres at the University of Manitoba Stadium.
"This was really big," said Runyan, a 30-year-old Paralympics veteran who was making her national team debut. "I can't see the clock, so I just try to compete. I just tried to stick my chest out and get over the line first."
Runyan and Pells were given the same time, 4:16.86, but the resident of Eugene, Oregon, was declared the winner after a careful review of the finish photo.
"My vision is not a problem in a race like this when it's close," Runyan said.
"I have macular degeneration. I've had it since I was 9. It's genetic and begins its onset at 9 years old and slowly degenerates your vision.
"I'm best correctable today to 20/300, and 20/200 and worse is legally blind. It affects my central vision so I lose details like reading, signs and faces. My peripheral vision stays good so I am able to get around pretty well."
The Paralympics is "an awesome event." she said. "I'm greatful to be a part of it, but for me to reach my full potential, I had to do this beyond the sight-impaired competition."
She competed in gymnastics and soccer before her vision began to deteriorate. "But when I was about 14 I just couldn't see the ball anymore."
Runyan took up running as a replacement. "I thought I could do anything I wanted, and I thought I was fast," she said.
Her accomplishments have sparked an even bigger goal. She wants to make the U.S. Olympic team for Sydney.
