Career
Sampson was reportedly encouraged to enter the marathon at the Owairaka Athletic Club by the men she trained with, including Olympians Bill Baillie and Ivan Keats. According to Sampson, Keats believed her participation would attract attention to the marathon and his running club which was organizing the event. Sampson, reported as having been fatigued due to dancing the previous night and having had no breakfast the morning of the race, ate ice cream and chocolate during the last few miles of the race.
Reports after the race described her as a mother, which was untrue.
In the only other marathon that Sampson ever ran, her 3:13:58 in Auckland on 9 May 1970 was good enough for the sixth best woman"s time in the world that year. As of 2008, Sampson worked at a drycleaners.