Mark Stanforth

Mark Stanforth is an American former marathon runner and coach, who won the 1978 Chicago Marathon. He failed to qualify for the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympics.

Early life, education and army service Stanforth studied at South Dakota State University, before transferring to the University of South Dakota–Springfield, graduating in 1972. At USD-Springfield, he participated in cross country running and basketball, and was twice the college's athlete of the year. He later worked in a bank in Phoenix. From January 1976 to August 1977, he attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota and received a master's degree in physical education.

Running career Stanforth ran his first marathon in 1973. While in the Army, he ran the 1974 Boston Marathon, finishing 75th. and set a course record in a race at Cooke Field, the stadium of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

In 1978, Stanforth moved to Phoenix, Arizona to attempt to qualify for the 1980 Summer Olympics. The race was run in a peak temperature of over , and Stanforth caught the leaders around into the race as they were struggling with the heat more than him. He then passed 1977 winner Dan Cloeter,

Stanforth was invited to the 1979 Chicago Marathon, but did not compete due to an injury. He competed in the US Marathon Trial Event for selected for the 1980 Summer Olympics. During the race, he became dehydrated, and eventually finished 124th out of 125 competitors.

Coaching career In 1977, Stanforth became a coach at USD-Springfield; he quit the role when he moved to Phoenix. As of 2002, he was a coach of the United States Air Force Academy athletics team.