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 2:34:47.5 in Berlin Marathon on September 10, 1977. It stood 13 months, until Grete Waitz's 2:32:29.8 on October 22, 1978. Wiki link