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Marathoner Sally Meyerhoff Perishes in Cycling Accident; Top American Female in 2009 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile
By David Monti (c) 2011 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.March 9, 2011
The winner of the women's division of last January's P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon, Sally Meyerhoff (photo at left, finishing 2009 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile), 27, of Maricopa, AZ was killed yesterday in a cycling accident in Maricopa (south of Phoenix), according to several published reports. The Arizona Republic reported that Meyerhoff was bicycling through an intersection around 1:30 pm heading south and collided with a pickup truck heading east, according to a police spokeswoman. Meyerhoff failed to yield at a two way stop sign. Reports say she was killed instantly. (News reports have not indicated whether there were witnesses.) According to ABC 15, the driver of the pickup truck showed no signs of impairment. Maricopa police are continuing to investigate the accident. With her long red hair, usually in pigtails, and her penchant for wearing running skirts, Meyerhoff stood out in elite fields. Bigger than most runners, Meyerhoff also dabbled in triathlons, and had qualified for last year's Ironman World Championships as an amateur. In college, Meyerhoff ran for Duke University where she won several ECAC titles, including the 5000-meters outdoors in 2004, and the 3000-meters indoors in 2005. She had career best times of 33:03.19 for 10,000m, 1:12:52 for the half-marathon, and 2:35:49 for the marathon.
In addition to her marathon win in Phoenix last January, Meyerhoff also won the 2009 USA 25K title, and was the 2010 More Magazine | Fitness Magazine Half-Marathon champion in New York, where in a cold downpour she set the event record of 1:14:40. She finished seventh (54:38, top American) in the 2009 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile women's race. She also won the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship Half-Marathon in Hawaii last December. Sally was scheduled to run the NYC Half on March 20, and defend her title at More | Fitness on April 3. Meyerhoff was also a coach.
Incredibly positive and loving, Meyerhoff wrote this on her Facebook page:
"I love my life, especially my dogs ♥ Barney♥ Wilbur ♥ Winston ♥ and now Maxx ♥. I would do absolutely anything for those that I love. A Duke Blue Devil forever :) I still miss the unbelievably gorgeous campus..."
You can read coverage here:
www.abc15.com
www.azcentral.com
www.ahwatukee.com
Note: Sally was a good friend, and Jane and I are still in shock over her death. She was very close with her mother, Cynthia, and her sisters, Jillian and Samantha. We will miss her terribly, and pray for her soul --David Monti