Sydney Maree

Sydney Maree was a middle-distance runner who started competing for his native South Africa. In the 1980s he came to the United States for college and became an American citizen, competing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics for the US in the 5,000 metres. Maree ran in college at Villanova, where he was twice NCAA Champion in the 1,500 m in 1980-81.

In August 1983, Maree ran 3:31.24 at a meet in Köln, Germany to break the world record for 1,500 metres. In August 1985, he ran 3:29.77 at the same meet, which was an American record. Maree won the TAC Meet in the 1,500 in 1981 and the 5K in 1984 and 1987. In 1995 Maree returned to South Africa with his family, where he formed a financial services asset management firm, Franklin Zamani, serving as the CEO of the company.

Personal Best: 5000 – 13:01.15 (1985).