Shalane Flanagan (born July 8, 1981 in Boulder,
Colorado) is one of the best female distance runners
in American history. She has two very accomplished
parents in the running arena. Her mother, Cheryl
Trewogy, is a former marathon world record holder
and five-time U.S. World Cross Country Championship
participant. Her father, Steve Flanagan, also a U.S.
World Cross Country Champion participant and
marathon runner (PR 2:18) raised her in Marblehead
along with her step-Mom Monica. Shalane's parents
were divorced in 1988. She has a sister Maggie, and
half-brother John Stephen.
Flanagan grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts where
at Marblehead High School she participated in soccer
and swimming in addition to cross country and track.
Before matriculating to the University of North
Carolina-Chapel Hill, her Marblehead HS
accomplishments included three-time All-State cross
country performances, a first-place All-State finish
in the mile, and a two-mile win whose record still
stands; her 4:46 mile won the Indoor National
Scholastic Championships. When attending UNC, she
won national cross country titles in 2002 and
2003--the first individual champions in the sport in
Tarheel history--and numerous track accolades, with
best times of 4:11.24 in 1500m (7th in the US at any
level in 2003,) 9:00.22 in the 3000m, and 15:20.54
in the 5000m.
Since advancing to the professional level in 2004,
she has lowered her 3000 meter time of 8:33.25 and
her 5000 meter time of 14:44.80, which are both
American records; her 1500m record has slightly
improved to 4:05.86. She is a two-time national
champions in the women's 5.000 metres.
Flanagan presently lives in North Carolina with her
husband Steve Edwards.
