Doris Brown Heritage

Who is Doris Brown Heritage?

Doris Brown was born on September 17, 1942 in Tacoma, Washington.

Brown went to Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor, Washington, graduating in 1960. She then attended Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington where she earned a B.A. in 1964 and a M.S. in 1971.

In 1966, Brown became the first women to run a sub-5 minute mile indoors, clocking 4:52. At one point in her career she held every women’s national and world record from 440 yards up through one mile. Brown is perhaps best remembered for her five victories in the International Cross Country Championships, and she also represented the United States at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics games. In 1976, Brown won the Vancouver International Marathon and placed second in the New York City Marathon. She coached track and cross country at Seattle Pacific University for four decades.

Brown was the second female inducted into U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999 and was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 2002.