Glenys Quick Quiet Achiever

Glenys could be considered the “Quiet Achiever” of New Zealand Women’s Distance Running during the 1980s era when the Kiwi distance girls Allison Roe, Lorraine Moller, and Anne Audain were world superstars.
Glenys Quick is now an expatriate New Zealander, living in Dallas, Texas, married to Dallas distance running coach Dr Robert Vaughn, with two grown-up daughters, Adoette and Tala.
After a successful junior career in New Zealand, Glenys really got noticed in New Zealand in 1977 when she won the New Zealand Women’s cross-country title. After a stint at the University of Canterbury in 1977, Glenys moved to Auckland, where she completed her first degree. From 1979 she was coached by Arthur Lydiard.
These days not many people would realize that the lady who teaches their daughters English and Photography at the exclusive Hockaday School in Dallas was once a world-class marathoner, coached by the great Arthur Lydiard himself.
In 1981, Glenys embarked on a road racing tour of the USA, eventually enrolling at Texas Women’s University in Denton on a track scholarship, where Robert was coach of the running squad. Glenys completed a degree in photo-journalism at Texas Women’s University.
Glenys is still 9th in the New Zealand women’s marathon rankings, with her best time being a 2 hour 31m:44srun for 6th in the 1985 Chicago marathon, ahead of fellow Kiwi marathoner Mary O’Connor, who was also one of the world’s best female marathoners. Glenys racked up half a dozen good marathon performances in the 1980s, including a win in the Nagoya Women’s marathon in 2:34.25 in 1984, and another 6th place in Chicago in 2:32:53 in 1984.

[@christinemunro7963]

Lovely to hear Glenys talk, I remember her well.

[@Hitsystem]

thanks Christine. I always felt she was never fully recognised for her achievements! Keith.

[@ashaher_]

I met Glenys in 1985 at the Philly half marathon. We cruised through 10 miles together before she pulled away and kicked my butt over that final 5k. She's very thoughtful and articulate and someone I cherish as a friend.

[@Hitsystem]

Yeah, Ashley; Glenys is very highly thought of by her New Zealand peers too. And she was deceptively strongand very consistent!

[@ianbarnett6027]

Great interview Keith. Very interesting regarding Glenys running career.

[@Hitsystem]

Thank you, Ian. She was very good to interview. How are you staying in shape these days? I remember you giving the established Auckland running stars a good old shake-up in the late 1970s. Keith.

[@k9taxi]

I ran with Glenys Quick back in the early 1980s for a few minutes. We spoke briefly at the 20 mile mark of the Dallas White Rock Marathon. She ended up running around 2:30 and I ran 2:26. Nice to chat with you back then Glenys!