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A successful
track and basketball
athlete in high
school in White
Salmon, Washington,
Liz Downing moved
into the athletic
arena at Lewis &
Clark College while
earning degrees in
communications and
business. Having
suffered a little
burnout from
competitive running
after high school,
the team sports of
basketball, softball
and soccer filled
her need for
competition. She
reached a plateau
with team sports
after college and
made a decision to
concentrate on
herself and to
return to running.
From there, it was
only a matter of
time before she
began competing in
triathlons and then
becoming one of the
greatest duathletes
(biking and running)
of all time.
Downing is a
four-time Female
Duathlete of the
Year as selected by
Triathlete Magazine
and the fastest ever
multi-sport woman on
a bike. In her only
attempt, she set an
American record in
the 40K bicycling
time trial. Downing
is a two-time World
Duathlon champion,
five-time US
National Duathlon
champion, two-time
US Duathlon
Federation champion,
three-time Coors
Light Duathlon
National champion,
and a three-time
Coors Light Grand
Prix champion.
Downing also is a
32-time winner of a
Coors Light Duathlon
Series even and a
four-time
All-American
Triathlete. Her
career duathlon
record is 64 first
place finishes and
nine second places.
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