Caroline Walker

Who is Caroline Walker?

Caroline Walker is a former American long-distance runner from Oregon who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set a world best in the marathon on February 28, 1970 with a time of 3:02:53 at the inaugural Trail's End Marathon in Seaside, Oregon.

Walker's performance was made while she was a junior at Grant High School in Portland. Although the school did not have official track or cross country teams, Walker began running competitively as a freshman. She ran for the Oregon Track Club. In 1970, Walker was the Oregon high school state champion in the mile and runner-up in the 3,000 meters at the AAU national championships held at UCLA. She also won the Junior AAU Cross-Country Championship held in Portland on November 13, 1971.

In the early 1970s, Walker attended the University of Oregon where she received instruction from the legendary Steve Prefontaine. After Prefontaine's death, she lived in his house with his girlfriend and sister.