SHANNON ROWBURY is an elite middle distance runner under contract with Nike currently residing in San Francisco, California. Shannon secured a position on the U.S. Olympic Team and ran the 1500 meter event in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Her many accomplishments in Athletics include:
- 2009 IAAF World Championships BRONZE MEDALIST (1500 meters)
- 2009 USATF Outdoor National Champion (1500 meters)
- 2009 USATF Road Mile National Champion
- 2008 USA Olympian and Olympic Finalist (1500 meters)
- 2008 USATF Outdoor National Champion (1500 meters)
- 2008 USATF Indoor National Champion (3000 meters)
- NACAC International Champion (1500 meters)
- 2007 NCAA National Champion (mile)
- Two time NCAA Runner up (mile and 3000 meters)
- Six time NCAA All-American (1500 meters to Cross Country)
- Multiple Atlantic Coast Conference collegiate Champion (1500 meters to Cross Country)
- Inductee - San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame (2008)
- Inductee - Sacramento Meet of Champion Hall of Fame (2008)
- National high school champion (800 meters)
- Two time California State high school champion (800 meters & 1600 meters)
In April of 2007, shortly after winning her first NCAA title in the mile run at the Indoor National Championships, Shannon was diagnosed with a Femoral Neck Stress Fracture (Hip Joint) which abruptly put an end to her collegiate career at Duke University. Although this injury was a major blow to Shannon's unfinished collegiate track career, it forced her to evaluate not only her biomechanics and physical strengths and weaknesses, but it also challenged her emotional strength and passion for her sport.
Shannon's injury led her to her current coach, John Cook, and training partners, Erin Donohue and Shalane Flanagan. During Shannon's rehabilitation, she dedicated herself to Coach Cook's thorough and comprehensive training program which improved her strength and flexibility while maintaining her aerobic fitness through various methods of non weight and low weight bearing exercises. In June of 2007, just 6 weeks after her diagnosis, Shannon was able to resume running on the Alter G-Trainer Treadmill, an anti-gravity device that enabled her to reduce her effective body weight while running, thus reducing her risk of injury and expanding her ability to train and condition in her sport. By early August of 2007, Shannon was running at her full body weight and beginning in earnest to build her aerobic base in preparation for the upcoming Olympic year. Shannon credits Coach Cook for her transformation from being "just a runner" to becoming a "true athlete".
Current Personal Bests
- 800 meter outdoor: 2:00.47 (2010)
- 1500 meter outdoor: 4:00.33 (2008)
- Mile outdoor: 4:20.34 (2008)
- Road Mile: 4:19.2 (2008)
- 3000 meter indoor: 8:31.38 (2010)
- 5000 meter outdoor: 15:00.51 (2010)
Professional Accomplishments - 2009
- 2009 IAAF World Championship Bronze Medalist (1500 meters)
- 2009 USATF Road Mile National Champion (mile)
- 2009 USATF Outdoor National Champion (1500 meters)
Professional Accomplishments - 2008
- 3000m USATF Indoor National Champion - 8:55.19
- 800m Duke Invitational Champion - 2:02.76
- 1500m Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational Champion - 4:07.59
- 1500m Adidas Track Classic Champion - 4:01.61
- 1500m USATF Olympic Trials Champion - 4:05.48
- 1500m IAAF Golden League Meeting: Gaz de France, Paris - Runner up - 4:00.33
- 1500m USA Olympian and Olympic Finalist: Beijing, China - 7th Place - 4:03.58
- 1500m IAAF Super Grand Prix: Lausanne, Switzerland - Runner up - 4:01.97
- Mile IAAF Grand Prix: Rieti, Italy - 3rd Place - 4:20.34