Quick Facts
Biography
Cheryl Bridges, now Cheryl Treworgy, is an American former long-distance runner who once held the American and world record in the marathon, racing in the 1960s and 1970s.
Biography
Cheryl Bridges was born December 25, 1947 in Indiana. She began her running career as a sophomore at North Central High School in Indianapolis. In her senior year in high school, she competed in the national cross-country championships.
In 1966, she became the first female athlete in the U.S. to receive an athletic scholarship to a public university — Indiana State University. She graduated in three years with a degree in physical education.
In 1969, she finished fourth in the World Cross Country Championships in Scotland. She set the U.S. records in the 3 mile and 5,000 meter distances. In 1971, she finished 3rd in the U.S. cross country championship.
On December 7, 1971, Bridges ran her first marathon, finishing the Culver City Marathon in a world record time of 2:49:40.
Her daughter, Shalane Flanagan won the bronze medal and set an American Record in the 2008 Summer Olympics Beijing in the 10,000 m.