Badgers Mourn Passing of Mary Hartzheim
January 19, 2006 | Women's Cross Country
Mary Hartzheim, a three-time All-American in women's track and cross country at the University of Wisconsin, passed away in Boston on Dec. 15, after a long battle with leukemia.
Hartzheim, a native of Minocqua, Wis., was a four-year letter winner in track and cross country from 1986-91. She earned two All-America honors in track, including a second-place finish in the 3,000 meters at the 1990 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Hartzheim also earned All-America honors in cross country during the 1990 season. She finished fifth at the NCAA championships, aiding the Badgers to a 10th-place team finish.
Hartzheim was a member of three Big Ten Conference championship teams in track and two conference championship teams in cross country. She twice earned All-Big Ten honors in cross country and five times in track. Hartzheim was a member of the 1987 Big Ten Championship 4x880-yard relay.
Hartzheim was a member of the Badgers' 4x1500-meter relay team in 1990 that set an American record. She teamed with Pam Hinton, Suzy Favor and her sister Maureen to win the event at the Penn Relays in a record time of 17 minutes, 22.72 seconds. Hartzheim still ranks fourth on the UW outdoor list in the 3,000 meters with a personal best time of 9:04.10.
She was also outstanding in the classroom, earning six Academic All-Big Ten honors in track and cross country. Hartzheim graduated from Wisconsin in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in political science. She also received her master 's degree in public administration from the UW.
Following her graduation, Hartzheim worked as the manager of state regulatory affairs for Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee and was the manager of state affairs for the Grocery Manufacturers of America in Washington, D.C. She also worked for Miller Brewing Company in Boston and most recently at Conkling, Fiskum & McCormick, a public affairs company in Washington, D.C.
She is survived by her husband, Fred Herlitz. Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society.
