Melissa Duncan

{{short description|Australian middle-distance runner}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{use Australian English|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Melissa Jane Duncan | nickname = Lissy | image = Melissa_Duncan_2015.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|1|30|df=yes}} | birth_place = Melbourne, Australia | death_date = | death_place = | height = 170cm | weight = 55kg | sport = Track and field | event = 1500 metres & 5000 metres | coach = Philo Saunders & Nic Bideau }}

'''Melissa Duncan''' (born 30 January 1990) is an Australian middle-distance runner who competes primarily in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/australia/melissa-duncan-232501 |title=Melissa Duncan |publisher=IAAF |date=27 August 2015| access-date=27 August 2015}}</ref>

thumb|Duncan in Japan in 2019 At an International level she competed at the 2015 and 2019 World Championships in Athletics, the 2016 World Indoor Championships, 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships and was the Gold Medallist at the 2019 Oceania Athletics Championships in the 5000m.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.athletics.com.au/news/oceania-championships-day-1-review-hometown-hero-wins/ |title=Oceania Championships Day 1 Review |publisher=Athletics Australia |date=25 June 2019| access-date=10 May 2024}}</ref>

She was selected for the 2016 Olympic Games however had to withdraw due to injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://runnerstribe.com/a-column-by-grace-kalac/melissa-duncan-back-on-track/|title=Melissa Duncan - Back on Track |publisher=Runners Tribe |date=23 April 2018| access-date=10 May 2024}}</ref>

After returning from injury, Duncan joined Nic Bideau's Melbourne Track Club and on his recommendation Duncan moved to Japan in 2019 to join the corporate Shiseido Running Club where she competed two seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com/2021/03/letting-go-of-preconceived-ideas.html|title=Australian Melissa Duncan on Her Time in the Corporate Leagues |publisher=Japan Running News |date=8 March 2021| access-date=10 May 2024}}</ref> Duncan in February 2024 said that her experience in Japan impacted her running career for the next three years and seriously affected her health.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/the-syndrome-preventing-many-female-athletes-performing-at-their-best-20240212-p5f45v.html |title=The syndrome preventing many female athletes performing at their best |publisher=The Age |date=19 February 2024| access-date=10 May 2024}}</ref>

On October 27, 2022, Duncan married fitness trainer Alice Baquie during a concert by singer Alex Lahey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/couple-gets-married-during-alex-lahey-show-in-melbourne-3337834|title=Couple gets married during Alex Lahey show in Melbourne|publisher=NME|date=27 October 2022| access-date=10 October 2025}}</ref> The couple however separated in 2024.

==Competition record== {| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}} |- !colspan="6"|Representing {{AUS}} |- |2007 |World Youth Championships |Ostrava, Czech Republic |4th |1500 m |4:20.24 |- |rowspan=3|2014 |rowspan=2|IAAF World Relays |rowspan=2|Nassau, Bahamas |4th |4 × 800 m relay |8:13.26 |- |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |4 × 1500 m relay |17:08.65 |- |Commonwealth Games |Glasgow, United Kingdom |10th |1500 m |4:14.10 |- |rowspan=2|2015 |IAAF World Relays |Nassau, Bahamas |4th |Distance medley relay |10:46.94 |- |World Championships |Beijing, China |20th (h) |1500 m |4:09.29 |- |2016 |World Indoor Championships |Portland, United States |6th |1500 m |4:09.69 |- |2019 |Oceania Championships |Townsville, Australia |bgcolor=gold|1st |5000 m |15:41.44 CR |- |2019 |World Championships |Doha, Qatar |20th (h) |5000 m |15:37.37 |- |2024 |World Cross Country Championship |Belgrade, Serbia |53rd |Senior Women |35:40 |}

==Personal bests== '''Outdoor''' *800 metres – 2:08.38 (Glendale. AUS - 31 January 2015) *1500 metres – 4:05.56 (Oslo. NOR - 11 June 2015) *One Mile – 4:26.90 (Dublin. IRE - 11 July 2014) *3000 metres – 8:55.61 (Box Hill. AUS - 29 April 2021) *5000 metres – 15:18.43 (Nijmegen. NED - 8 June 2018) *10000 metres – 34:24.45 (Melbourne. AUS - 2 December 2023) *Half Marathon – 1:13:03 (Melbourne. AUS - 8 September 2024)

'''Indoor''' *1500 metres – 4:06.93 (Boston - 14 February 2016)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{sports links}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Melissa}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Australian women middle-distance runners Category:Australian Athletics Championships winners Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes from Melbourne Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Australia Category:Commonwealth Games athletes for Australia Category:LGBTQ track and field athletes Category:21st-century Australian sportswomen Category:Sportswomen from Victoria (state)