Christa Vahlensieck is a German former long distance runner and pioneer in the marathon for women. During her running career, from 1973 to 1989, she simultaneously achieved a world record in the 10,000 metres, in the 25k road race and the marathon; she holds 17 German championship titles. Christa Vahlensieck (West Germany) set the women's marathon world record of 2:40:15.8 in Dülmen on May 3, 1975. It stood 5 months, until Jacqueline Hansen's 2:38:19 on October 12, 1975. Wiki link