Melissa Duncan

Melissa Duncan (born 29 January 1988) is an Australian middle-distance runner who competes primarily in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres.^[1]

Duncan in Japan in 2019

Melissa Jan Duncan

Personal information
Nickname	Lissy
Born	(1988-01-29) 29 January 1988 (age 37) Melbourne, Australia
Height	165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight	55 kg (121 lb)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event	1500 metres & 5000 metres
Coached by	Philo Saunders & Nic Bideau

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.^[2]

She was selected for the 2016 Olympic Games however had to withdraw due to injury.^[3]

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.^[4] Duncan in February 2024 said that her experience in Japan impacted her running career for the next three years and seriously affected her health.^[5]

Competition record

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  Australia
2007	World Youth Championships	Ostrava, Czech Republic	4th	1500 m	4:20.24
2014	IAAF World Relays	Nassau, Bahamas	4th	4 × 800 m relay	8:13.26
			3rd	4 × 1500 m relay	17:08.65
	Commonwealth Games	Glasgow, United Kingdom	10th	1500 m	4:14.10
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	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)