CHAMPAIGN, ILL. -- Former Fighting Illini women's track & field athlete, Marianne Dickerson, passed away Wednesday night. The current track and field coaching staff, Ron Garner, Randy Gillon and Scott Jones, and the rest of the Fighting Illini family pass along their condolences to the Dickerson family. Dickerson was 54.

"We are very sad to hear of Marianne's passing," said Coach Garner. "She was one of the greatest Illinois Women's Track Athletes of all-time and set the standard for the distance athletes that came after her. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dickerson family." 

Dickerson is herald as one of the greatest female distance runners to ever don the Orange and Blue. Taking a look back at her career, the Illini great was the runner-up in the marathon at the inaugural Track & Field Championships in 1983 after also earning All-American status in the 10,000m, placing third, at NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Along with her All-American performance in the 10,000m, she is currently holds spots on the school's top-10 list in seven different events. For her accomplishments in 1983, Dickerson received the 1983 Illini Female Athlete of the Year award, the first cross-country or track and field athlete to garner the honor.

After her career at the University of Illinois, Dickerson continued her excellence by winning the 1988 Baltimore Marathon with a time of 2:41:05.