Sam Pelletier

Sam Pelletier (born October 14, 1957) is a retired American distance runner. He competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon in 1984 and 1988 and won the 1983 Philadelphia Marathon. Pelletier held the record for the fastest marathon by a Maine native for 38 years. He was inducted into the Maine Running Hall of Fame in 1997.

Early life Pelletier grew up in Fort Kent, Maine and attended Fort Kent Community High School, graduating in 1975. He placed ninth at the 1974 Maine Class A Cross Country Championship. Pelletier enrolled at the University of Maine, where he ran cross country and distance events on the track. This was the fastest marathon ever recorded by a Maine native until Ben True ran 2:12:53 at the 2021 New York City Marathon.

From 1983 to 1987, Pelletier served in the Army and was based in California. His best half marathon came at the Philadelphia Distance Run where he clocked a 1:04:31 to place tenth.

Pelletier competed for the Army in international cross country races through 1987. He again qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon in 1988 before stepping away from racing to focus on his medical career.