Cyndy Poor

Cynthia Shepherd "Cyndy" Poor (born May 18, 1953, in Hanover, New Hampshire) is a retired American track and field athlete, known primarily for her success in middle-distance races.

[4] By the time she reached the 1976 United States Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, she was one of the favorites in the 800 metres behind two-time winner Madeline Manning.

The trials race came to form as Poor used her sprinter's speed to move from fourth to second in the last 120 metres and qualify for the Olympics behind Manning.

Larrieu entered the trials as the American recordholder, having spent the last several years battling and exchanging records with Jan Merrill.

Merrill was a dominant frontrunner, with little finishing speed—a tactic that normally served her well by burning off most opponents except occasionally Larrieu.