Ron Tabb
Ron Tabb (born August 7, 1954) is a retired male long-distance runner from the United States, who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the men's marathon. He won the 1981 edition of the Paris Marathon ex-æquo with England's Dave Cannon. He won the 1983 Beijing Marathon and competed at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics later that year, finishing in 18th place overall.
Tabb attended Central Missouri State University between 1972–1977 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2004.[1] His career suffered due to the 1980 Olympic boycott, as he had qualified for the games but the United States did not participate in the Moscow Games. He married Mary Decker in 1981 but they divorced two years later.
Achievements
- 1983 Boston Marathon....2:09:31 2nd. 5th fastest marathon in U.S. history
- 1983 N.Y. City Marathon.2:10:24 3rd. 1st American
- 1983 Wang Australian Marathon..2:10:53 1st 2nd fastest marathon on Australian continent.
- 1980 Mardi Gras Marathon (New Orleans) 2:11:00 1st Louisiana state record.
- 1981 Paris Marathon Paris, France..2:11:44..1st fastest marathon on French soil.
- 1980 U.S. Olympic trials..2:12:39 4th..1st alternate United States Olympic Team
- 1980 Houston Marathon..2:13:35..1st..Texas state record
- 1983 World Championships..2:13:Helsinki, Finland 18th. Fastest time by an American at World Championships until 2007.
- 1980 Boston Marathon..2:14:48..3rd..2nd American
- 1982 Nike OTC Marathon..2:15:30 15th. Eugene,Oregon
- 1985 Rio Marathon..2:16:16..1st. Fastest marathon on South American continent.
- 1978 St. Louis Marathon..2:16:35..1st..Missouri state record.
- 1979 N.Y. City Marathon..2:16:56 8th.
- 1978 Houston Marathon..2:17:11..1st..Texas state record
- 1979 Montreal Marathon..2:17:14..10th..1st American
- 1985 Big "M" Marathon..2:17:45..4th..1st American
- 1979 Honolulu Marathon..2:17:58..3rd
- 1983 Beijing Marathon..2:18:51..1st..
- 1985 New Jersey Waterfront Marathon..2:19:11..4th
- 1988 Houston Marathon..2:19:38..17th
- 1979 Boston Marathon..2:19:41..51st.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing the  United States
| |||||
| 1981 | Paris Marathon | Paris, France | 1st | Marathon | 2:11:44 |
| 1983 | Boston Marathon | Boston, United States | 2nd | Marathon | 2:09:31 |
| Beijing Marathon | Beijing, PR China | 1st | Marathon | 2:18:51 | |
| World Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 18th | Marathon | 2:13:38 | |