Douglas Floyd PADILLA

Doug Padilla won the TAC Championship in the 5K from 1983-86 and the 3-miles indoors, also from 1983-86. Internationally, he won several gold medals in the 5K – at the 1981 Universiade, the 1985 World Cup, and the 1986 Goodwill Games. In 1985 he was the overall IAAF Grand Prix champion in the World Cup. He also competed in that event at the 1983 World Championships and the 1987 Pan American Games.

After his track career ended, Padilla ended up back at his alma mater, Brigham Young (BYU), as director of track & field operations. Padilla graduated from BYU in 1983 with a degree in electrical engineering. He continued to compete through 1996, trying to get a qualifying time for the US Olympic Trials, and then aiming for masters’ competition. On a run on 19 June, he was hit by a car, which shattered his left leg, which required multiple surgeries and took over a year for him to be able to walk again. There was concern that his leg would need to be amputated, but he persevered, eventually healed, and returned to lower level masters’ competition.