Doug Padilla

Height: 5-9 Weight: 140 Roster Years: 1978-1980 Hometown: San Leandro, CA Last School: Chabot Junior College

Doug Padilla is currently working as the Track Administrative Assistant at BYU.

Years at BYU

1999-Present

Education

• B.S. in electrical engineering from BYU, 1983

Prior to BYU

• Professional athlete in track and field
• Was a 12-time national champion
• Competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics

Hometown

• Lives in Orem, Utah.
• Originally from San Leandro, Calif.

Personal/Family

• Married to Lynette with four children, two girls and two boys.
• Served an LDS mission to El Salvador

1991 Hall of Fame Inductee

Six times Doug Padilla has been one of the world's top indoor distance runners (1982-86 and 1990). He was Outdoor Mobil Grand Prix champion in 1985 and twice champion of the 5,000-meter race, in 1985 and 1987. In 1990 he was the Indoor USA/Mobil Grand Prix Champion, awarded to the most productive racer of the season - an honor that netted him $12,000. In the eight-week, 11-meet Mobil Grand Prix circuit, he was the best overall male performer in any event. It was a fitting rebound for his career, which seemed in jeopardy for four years because of asthma.

Twice Doug has represented the United States in the Olympics: in 1988 at Seoul and in 1984 when he placed seventh in the 5,000-meters at Los Angeles.

From 1983 to 1987 he won five consecutive national indoor championships, four national outdoor championships, and two U.S. Olympic trials.

The San Leandro, California, strider - known for his patented kick - broke seven American records in three distances. Included among those was the outdoor 3,000-meters (7:35.84), the indoor two mile (8:15.02), the indoor 5,000-meters (13:20.55), and the road 5,000 meters (13:30).

Doug transferred to BYU from Chabot Junior College in 1975 and served a Church mission to El Salvador from 1976 to 1978. Upon his return to BYU, he went on to earn eight All-America citations. He won the 1981 NCAA indoor two-mile crown when he out-kicked 1980 Olympic silver medalist Suleiman Nyambui to become the first American since 1972 to win an NCAA indoor distance race.

As a senior in 1981, the electrical engineering major topped the BYU career leader board with a 3:38.37 in the 1,500 meters and a 13:33.50 in the 5,000 meters. As of 1991, he was the only runner to break the four-minute-mile barrier inside the state of Utah.

Career Highlights

• Earned eight All-American citations
• Won the 1981 NCAA indoor two-mile crown
• Became the first American since 1972 to win an NCAA indoor distance race
• Topped the BYU career leader board with a 3:38.37 in the 1,500 meters
• Ran a 13:33.50 in the 5,000 meters
• All-American at the NCAA Championships in Wisconsin, placing 34th in 30:22.6., 1978
• All-American, placing 15th in 29:50.2 in the NCAA Championships at Wichita, Kansas, 1980

Before BYU

• Prepped at Marina High School
• Earned his Eagle Scout award
• Served an LDS mission to El Salvador from 1976 to 1978
• Went to Chabot Junior College before his mission

After BYU

• Professional distance runner
• Two-time Olympian, 1984, 1988
• Inducted into the BYU Hall of Fame in 1991

Post-BYU Honors and Societies

• Has been one of the world’s top indoor distance runners six times, 1982-86, 1990
• Was the Outdoor Mobil Grand Prix champion in 1985
• Was a champion twice of the 5,000-meter race, 1985, 1987
• Was named the Indoor USA/Mobil Grand Prix Champion, 1990
• Has represented the United States twice in the Olympics, 1984, 1988
• Placed seventh in the 5,000-meter in 1984
• Won five consecutive national indoor championships, four national outdoor championships and two U.S. Olympic trials from 1983-1987
• Broke seven American records in the outdoor 3,000-meters, the indoor two mile, the indoor 5,000-meters, and the road 5,000 meters