She was born Judy Shapiro in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents, and had two older brothers.
[3] Her family moved to Sunland-Tujunga, north-east of Los Angeles, in Southern California when she was one year old.
[2] She had a 5th-place finish at the 1960 United States Olympic Trials in the 800 metres in Abilene, Texas.
[1] She competed in the 1961 Maccabiah Games in Israel, winning a bronze medal in the 800 m.[8][9] Shapiro-Ikenberry won the 1967 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Las Vegas Marathon, in 3:38.
[3] In 1974 Shapiro-Ikenberry again won the race, at the 1974 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, this time in 2:54:08.