Debbie Heald

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Debbie Heald (born August 20, 1955) is a former American track and field athlete known for her middle-distance running.

Early life
Debbie is the daughter of Richard and Ernestine Heald. She grew up in La Mirada, California.

Career
She joined the Hutchinson Track Club when she was 11. At a meet in Lancaster, she ran a mile in 5:33.9, which was the fastest time for a girl her age at the time. By age 14, she had won three state championships, five AAU titles, and two national crowns.

In 1972, Debbie defeated Tamara Pangelova of the USSR at the Richmond Coliseum, a notable win during the Cold War when the Soviets often dominated the sport. She also set an American high school indoor mile record for girls (4:38.5), a record that stood for over 40 years until Mary Cain broke it in 2013. That mark was the longest-standing girls’ high school record for a long time.

College and later life
Debbie attended California State University, Fullerton, and earned a degree in education. She continued to train through college, but her career was affected by injuries and tendonitis from overtraining, and she was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

In 2002, Debbie carried the Olympic torch in Los Angeles as part of the lead-up to the Winter Games in Salt Lake City.