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This Program Presented By
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We’re behind Team USA at the start.
© 2012 BP Products North America Inc. 36 USC 220506
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BP is honored to fuel the future of Team USA in 2012 and beyond. As the Official Energy Sponsor of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, we’re pleased to partner with the Houston Marathon Host Committee, USA Track & Field and the USOC. The dedication and drive embodied in every Olympic Hopeful inspires each of BP’s 23,000 employees in America. Join us and get behind the athletes at facebook.com/BPTeamUSA
We’ll be there at the finish.
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Publisher’s Comments Welcome to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials–Marathon program. You will see history on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. Both the men’s and women’s Trials races are being held in Hous ton, the first me both Olympic events have been hosted in the same city. Kudos to the Houston Marathon Commi ee, their sup porters and the volunteers who took on this important task nearly 4 years ago. Thanks to USA Track & Field, the United States Olympic Commi ee and the sponsors of both USATF and the USOC. Thanks to BP, BMW, VISA, and Nike, who supported this program and our sport. The races should be extraordinary. Ryan Hall versus Meb Keflezighi and perhaps Galen Rupp, and some sur prises will make the men’s race memorable. Desi Davila and Shalane Flanagan should lead the women’s race, with some tremendous talent there. Don’t forget Kara Goucher, Jen Rhines or Linda Somers Smith, who has competed in seven Olympic Trials! This program is your guide to the day’s excitement. Save it as a souvenir. Get your favorite athlete’s autograph. You will find, as we have, that our sport’s athletes are not only great compe tors, but love their sport. Enjoy the day. You are truly witnessing sport history! Regards,
Larry Eder Group Publisher, Shoo ng Star Media, Inc. President, Running Network, LLC www.runningnetwork.com www.runblogrun.com
Course Map U.S. Olympic Trials 2012 Facts & Figures Desi Davila by Ellio Denman/AT&F Ryan Hall by Ellio Denman/AT&F Shalane Flanagan by Jon Gugala/Runblogrun.com Kara Goucher by Jon Gugala/Runblogrun.com How will the Golden State do? by Mark Winitz California Track & Running News courtesy of Houston 2012 Trials Memories by James Dunaway American Track & Field
Special thanks to Houston 2012, Wade Morehead, Brant Kotch, Steven Karpas, Jennifer Carmouche, Houston Marathon Commi ee, USA Track & Field, Jill Geer, Jim Estes, BP, BMW, VISA, Nike. Design: Alex Larsen; Prin ng: W. D. Hoards, Publisher: Larry Eder. Published for good of the sport. All logos used with permission. 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon. Content, in any form, is copyrighted. Please contact publisher for permission for use in any form.
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2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon
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Dear Fans, It is USA Track & Field’s great pleasure to welcome you to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon, hosted by the Houston Marathon Committee. For the first time ever, this country’s finest men and women marathoners will run in the same city, on the same day, to compete for a total of six Olympic Team spots on Team USA. With this historic gathering of our nation’s most talented runners, Saturday’s race is sure to be one of the best ever run on U.S. soil. Thanks to USATF’s partnership with the Houston Marathon Committee, the City of Houston and the U.S. Olympic Committee, this Olympic Trials promises to be a unique, world-class event. Just as everything is bigger in Texas, so is Houston’s support for U.S. distance running, and that support has been on display at every step of preparations for these Olympic Trials. Everyone from local organizers to countless volunteers signing up to make this event a success has been critical to staging the race that will field our London marathon team for the World’s #1 Track & Field Team. Of course, our incredible athletes are the stars of the show. Nearly 300 runners will be here to pursue their dreams. But no race is possible without hundreds of dedicated officials, thousands of volunteers, USATF’s valued corporate partners and of course, the dedicated coaches who guide athletes toward that medal stand. You are all part of an incredible system that has yielded the highest level of success for decades. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon is the first of three Olympic Trials events for our sport this year, and we couldn’t be more thrilled than to start the Olympic Year in Houston. We thank each and every one of our fans who traveled to be a part of this weekend, and we hope you enjoy the races. Warm Regards,
Stephanie Hightower USATF President
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2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon
Mike McNees USATF Interim CEO
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Getty Images/IAAF
Getty Images
Errol Anderson/USATF
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In 2004, USATF and Team USA athletes initiated an outreach program that was aimed at educating youth, parents, educators, and coaches about the positive results that come from leading a physically active, drug-free lifestyle while living with integrity. Track and Field champions from every discipline visited schools and community centers all over the country to work directly with young people. Since then, the Win With Integrity program has evolved from a start-up program into one of USA Track & Field's most successful initiatives. For more info, log onto www.usatf.org.
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2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon
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U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS MARATHON - FAST FACTS MEN’S QUALIFIERS Individuals = 158 Qualifying standards achieved = 344 “A“ Standard = 158 Time standard = 2:19:00 (A); no (B) Also “A“: halfmarathon = 1:05:00; and 10,000m (track) = 28:30.00
WOMEN’S QUALIFIERS Individuals = 223 Qualifying Standards achieved = 411 “A“ Standard = 45 “B“ Standard = 178 Time standard = 2:39:00 (A); 2:46:00 (B) Also “B“: halfmarathon = 1:15:00 and 10,000m (track) = 33:00.00
AVERAGE AGE OF ENTERED QUALIFIERS Men = 28.4 Women = 31.5
OLDEST QUALIFIER ENTERED
(age on January 14, 2012)
Mbarak Hussein, 46, Albuquerque, NM (born April 4, 1965) Linda Somers Smith, 50, Arroyo Grande, CA (born May 7, 1961)
YOUNGEST QUALIFIER ENTERED (age on January 14, 2012) Craig Curley, 23, Tucson, AZ (born July 1, 1988) Amanda Marino, 22, Jackson, NJ (born October 19, 1989)
FOREIGN BORN QUALIFIERS Men (12) Abdi Abdirahman, Somalia Bolota Asmerom, Eritrea Fasil Bizuneh, Germany Robert Cheseret, Kenya Joseph Chirlee, Kenya Mbarak Hussein, Kenya Meb Keflezighi, Eritrea Miguel Nuci, Mexico Celedonio Rodriguez, Mexico Simon Sawe, Kenya Mike Sayenko, Ukraine Mo Trafeh, Morocco Women (10) Mary Akor, Nigeria Janet CherobonBawcom, Kenya Colleen De Reuck, South Africa Sopagna Eap, Thailand Zoila Gomez, Mexico Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Poland Adriana Nelson, Romania Kim Pawelek, Vietnam Linda Somers Smith, Germany YiOu Wang, China
FAMILY AFFAIR QUALIFIERS Husband and Wife (3) Adam and Kara Goucher Chad Johnson and Melissa JohnsonWhite Jason Lehmkuhle and Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle Brothers (1) Brothers Josh and Jason Ordway and Josh’s his exwife, Becki Michael, also qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials. Twins (3) Drew and Kyle Shackleton Kara and Tara Storage Edwardo and Jorge Torres SOURCE: USA Track & Field, Running USA and MarathonGuide.com Con nued On Page 12
MASTERS 40 AND OLDER QUALIFIERS ENTERED Men = 1 Women = 21
STATE SUMMARY The 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifiers live or train in 41 states plus Washington, DC. The Trials male qualifiers can be found in 33 states plus Washington, DC, and the Trials female qualifiers in 40 states. There were nine states without Trials qualifiers: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, SouthCarolina, South Dakota and Wyoming. States with the most qualifiers (>20): California = 64, men (30), women (34) Colorado = 41, men (19), women (22) Michigan = 27, men (15), women (12) Oregon = 27, men (13), women (14) Arizona = 25, men (13), women (12) 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon
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Con nued From Page 11
U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS MARATHON MOST U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS MARATHON QUALIFIED 4 Name Clint Verran Josh Cox
Age 36 36
Residence Lake Orion, MI Mammoth Lakes, CA
13 OLYMPIANS ALL EVENTS Name Abdi Abdirahman Bolota Asmerom Dan Browne Ian Dobson Anthony Famiglie Adam Goucher Ryan Hall Meb Keflezighi Dathan Ritzenhein Galen Rupp Brian Sell Ma Tegenkamp Jorge Torres
Year 2000, 2004, 2008 2000 – ERI 2004 – two events 2008 2004, 2008 2000 2008 2000, 2004 2004, 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
5 OLYMPIANS MARATHON Name Dan Browne Ryan Hall Meb Keflezighi Dathan Ritzenhein Brian Sell
Year 2004 2008 2004 – silver medal 2008 2008
4 CURRENT U.S. RECORD HOLDERS Name Event Fernando Cabada 25 km Ryan Hall Halfmarathon 30 km Dathan Ritzenhein 20 km Galen Rupp 5,000m indoors 10,000m Ma Tegenkamp 2 mile
Time 1:14:21 59:43 1:28:38 56:48 13:11.44 26:48.00 8:07.07 – unofficial
6 USA MARATHON CHAMPIONS 7 TITLES Name Dan Browne Mbarak Hussein Ryan Hall Fernando Cabada Meb Keflezighi Sergio Reyes
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Year 2002 2005, 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon
- FAST FACTS
MOST USA TITLES Name Meb Keflezighi Dan Browne Abdi Abdirahman Adam Goucher Max King Michael Wardian
No. of Titles 20 (14 road, 3 track, 3 cross country) 17 (14 road, 2 track, 1 cross country) 13 (9 road, 4 track) 9 (1 road, 2 track, 2 indoor, 4 cross country) 7 (6 trail, 1 mountain) 7 (7 ultra road)
31 PAST USA CHAMPIONS 130 COMBINED NATIONAL TITLES Name Meb Keflezighi Dan Browne Abdi Abdirahman Adam Goucher Max King Michael Wardian Anthony Famiglie Ryan Hall Dathan Ritzenhein Brian Sell Ma Tegenkamp Mo Trafeh Fernando Cabada Galen Rupp Jorge Torres Andrew Carlson James Carney Mbarak Hussein Bobby Mack Ben True Fasil Bizuneh Robert Cheseret Ian Dobson Bre Gotcher Chad Johnson Ed Moran Sean Quigley Sergio Reyes Chris Siemers Brent Vaughn Antonio Vega
No. of Titles 20 17 13 9 7 7 6 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
SOURCE: USA Track & Field and Running USA
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U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS MARATHON
- FAST FACTS
MOST OLYMPIC MARATHON TRIALS QUALIFIED A RECORD 7
6 USA MARATHON CHAMPIONS 9 TITLES
Linda Somers Smith, 50, Arroyo Grande, CA
Name Linda Somers Kim Pawelek Deena Kastor Colleen De Reuck Ilsa Paulson Shalane Flanagan
9 OLYMPIANS ALL EVENTS Name Amy Begley Colleen De Reuck Shalane Flanagan Kara Goucher Deena Kastor Magdalena Lewy Boulet Jen Rhines Blake Russell Linda Somers Smith
Year 2008 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 2004, 2008 – two events 2008 – two events 2000, 2004, 2008 2008 2000, 2004, 2008 2008 1996
6 OLYMPIANS MARATHON Name Colleen De Reuck Deena Kastor Magdalena Lewy Boulet Jen Rhines Blake Russell Linda Somers Smith
Year 1996, 2000, 2004 2004, 2008 – bronze medal 2004 2008 2004 2008 1996
4 CURRENT U.S. RECORD HOLDERS Name Event Colleen De Reuck U.S. AllComers 10 mile 20 km Shalane Flanagan 3,000m indoors 5,000m indoors 10,000m Molly Huddle 5,000m Deena Kastor 5 km 8 km 12 km 15 km 10 mile 20 km Halfmarathon 30 km Marathon
Time 51:16 1:05:11 8:33.25 14:47.62 30:22.22 14:44.76 14:54 24:36 38:24 47:15 51:31 1:04:07 1:07:34 1:39:08 2:19:36
Year 1993, 1994 1999 2001, 2007, 2008 2004 2009 2010
MOST USA TITLES Name Deena Kastor (nee Drossin) Shalane Flanagan Colleen De Reuck Molly Huddle Ka e McGregor
No. of Titles 25 (5 track, 12 road, 8 cross country) 14 (4 track, 4 road, 1 indoor, 5 cross country) 10 (8 road, 2 cross country) 7 (6 road, 1 track) 7 (6 road, 1 track)
27 PAST USA CHAMPIONS 108 COMBINED NATIONAL TITLES Name Deena Kastor (nee Drossin) Shalane Flanagan Colleen De Reuck Molly Huddle Ka e McGregor Amy Begley Jen Rhines Janet CherobonBawcom Kara Goucher Blake Russell Kami Semick Meghan Arbogast Devon CrosbyHelms Lauren Fleshman Magdalena Lewy Boulet Chris Lundy Linda Somers Smith Kasie Enman Esther Erb Lisa Koll Megan LundLizo e Renee Me vier Baillie Ilsa Paulson Kim Pawelek Emily Po er Molly Pritz Jodie Robertson
No. of Titles 25 14 10 7 7 6 5 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
SOURCE: USA Track & Field and Running USA 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon
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HOUSTON 2012 ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Desiree Davila Houston 2012 by Ellio
Denman, courtesy of American Track & Field
“I’m 100% right now,” Desiree Davila tells you. Feeling great, feeling strong, feeling buoyant, the Californiareared, Arizona schooled, Michigantrained, 5foot2, 28yearold star of the Hansons Brooks Distance Project has run off to Florida for her final training sessions en route to the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Houston, Jan. 14, 2012. If the Olympic Trials Marathon were to be held tomorrow, she’d be ready. With the race s ll a monthplus away (at this wri ng), she’ll be even readier. As the me clock to the star ng gun—to be fired at exactly 8:15 a.m. on the second Saturday of the year—con nues to count down, her prepara on level con nues to climb up and up. This is the “peaking“ process that every worldclass athlete must master. It’s not what anyone has ever done previously. Press clippings have no value. Stats lists are irrelevant. It’s veryvery simple and straight forward. It’s what that athlete is going to deliver “on the day.“ And what a day it will be! What an event it figures to produce. With the men going off at 8 a.m. and the women a quarterhour later—the first me the dual trials will be held same place, same day—the media masses will be hardpressed to keep up with the evolving story lines. The USA has sent four eventual winners off to Olympic marathons— da ng back to Thomas Hicks at St. Louis in 1904, Johnny Hayes at London in 1908, Frank Shorter at Munich in 1972, and Joan Benoit (now Samuel son) at Los Angeles in 1984. Is there a fi h stepping to the line in Houston Jan. 14th? Not very likely in the men’s race—where Ryan Hall and Meb Ke flezighi seem to be the class of the pack, but minutes behind current worldleading pace... But who knows what might transpire in the women’s race? Even with the great Paula Radcliffe (whose world record of 2:15:25 dates back to 2003) now on the comeback trail (as a mom of daughter, Isla and son Raphael) and such top candidates as Liliya Shobukohova of Russia (2:18:20 this year), Mary Jepkosgei (2:19:19) and Florence Jebet Kiplagat (2:19:44) of Kenya, Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia (2:21:59) and a flock of others wai ng in the wings, there is no clearcut favorite for the 26.2mile race through London. Such is the depth in Kenya and Ethiopia that many from those na ons occupying high spots on the year lists will not be on the premises. “The Big One“ will start at The Mall, directly fron ng Buckingham Palace in London at precisely 11 a.m. on the 5th of August 2012. Only some extraordinary occurrence in Houston figures to keep Davila away from that scenerio as one of the three proud USA delegates.
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Even with such redoubtables as Shalane Flanagan, Kara Goucher, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Amy Has ngs, Stephanie Rothstein, Clara Grandt and Deena Kastor arrayed against her, expert opinion is that Davila will be a top candidate to win the run through Houston.
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Back in 2008, the virtually unknown Davila—who’d prepped at Cal ifornia’s Hilltop High School and had a lessthancommanding career at Arizona State University—a racted her first real a en on from the dis tance running gurus when she got as close as 4th place at one stretch of the Olympic Marathon Trial, before “panicking,“ as she put it, and sliding back to 13th place in 2:37:50. She’s not about to repeat the mistakes that cost her dearly 4 years ago. She’s got the experience now that assures she won’t let the “li le things“ that built into major problems get to her. She’s a truly ba le toughened young vet of the distance game, ready to duke it out with any rival, foreign or domes c. Oh, some cynics may allege that her startling 2nd place in the 2011 Boston Marathon (just nosed out by Kenya’s Caroline Cheptanui Kilel, 2:22:36 to 2:22:38) proves li le. For one thing, condi ons were virtually perfect and the pacing situa on likewise. For another, they say, that 2:22:38 came “out of the blue“ and might be difficult to repeat. For a third, the classic HopkintontoBoston route has now been ruled ineligible for record purposes since it’s a net downhill of 136.29 meters. But pay those nega vists no heed. More than anything, that Boston performance proved that Davila can really, truly run with the best. She has the speed, the talent and now—a er years of buildup the confidence needed to run at the highest level. Marathon aside, she snared a 31:37 fourth place in the 10,000 meters at the USA Na onals in Eugene last June. She’s zooming in on 15 flat for the 5000. “Training’s going really well,“ she tells you. She’s s ll into the “high mileage“ phase of her Houston prepara ons, but will soon back down to the “sharpness“ phase, which will in clude some quality miling on the track. Best guess is that a pack of least 8 to 10 will fight it out for the lead, for at least halfway through the threeloop course, and that some com plete long shots (among them the “wild cards“ who’ve posted qualifying mes at the half marathon or 10K distances, rather than the full 26.2 miler) will be among them. And that’s where Davila, long since graduated from the “rookie“ cat egory, armed with the savvy of a young veteran, figures to start making her big move.
With everything then on the line, Desiree Davila promises that she won’t let that precious moment escape her.
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By 23–24 miles, it may be down to a precious few.
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HOUSTON 2012 ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Ryan Hall Houston 2012, by Ellio
Denman, courtesy of American Track & Field
New York–Ryan Hall has seen the course for the 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon course and loves it. But will the Houston route (a 2.2mile loop star ng at the George R. Brown Conven on Center followed by three 8mile outer loops) love Ryan Hall? We'll know soon enough. The Olympic Trials Marathon date of Jan. 14 is sprin ng up on us. The 29yearold Californian (Big Bear High School '01, Stanford '06) will head to Texas as defending Marathon Trial champion and rocksolid choice to win it again. He'd won the 2008 Olympic Trials Marathon (actually held Nov. 3, 2007) in New York's Central Park in a convincing 2:09:02 and went on to run 10th at the Beijing Olympics. And he's lowered his PR since then from 2:06:17 (London, 2008) to 2:04:58 (albeit on the nowasterisked HopkintontoBoston route, April 18.) Statswise, that should make him a leadpipe cinch to romp home a win ner in Houston. The Olympic Trials Marathon qualifying window has been open since 2009 and just one other man, Meb Keflezighi (with 2:09:15, 2:09:21 and 2:09:26 clockings), has broken 2:10. The window closed on Dec. 11. But Hall is coun ng no chickens and taking the anythingcanhappen onagivenday approach. He knows that Meb (2009 ING NYC champion and 2004 Olympic Silver medalist) can always climb the sport's greatest heights. And he knows that any of the several "young guns" who've clocked super mes over the half marathon or 10K routes have the poten al to stun the form chartmakers. "I love the Houston course [which he's checked on inspec on tours] and it's got a great feel to it," he reports. "It kind of replicates the Olympic Marathon course in London so if I make the team I'll pre y much know what to expect. It should be great for the spectators and great for the runners, too. We'll see everybody else and can make frequent checks on what's going on behind us (or ahead). "Oh, it's got a few ups and downs, but not too many. Basically, it's pre y much ideal.
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"Man, I really think I can run quick on it." Up to 1964, the Olympic Marathon team was generally chosen on the combined results of mul ple Trials races. But in 1968, the format switched to a single Trial event and has stayed that way since. Hall will be running for the history books in another important way. Since 1968, no man has managed to win it (outright) twice in a row. Closest to the feat was Frank Shorter who (en route to his Munich Olympic Gold medal performance) shared the 1972 Trials crown with Kenny Moore and then won it on his own in 1976. The rollcall of winners since then: Tony Sandoval 1980; Peter Pfitzinger 1984; Mark Conover 1988; Steve Spence 1992; Bob Kempainen 1996; Rod DeHaven 2000; Alan Culpepper 2004 .. and Hall in 2008.
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Hall dares not make any me predic ons for Houston, but knows that "if we get a nice day, without too much wind, it will be definitely possible to run sub2:06." If Hall needs further inspira on, it came at the recent Pan American Games in Guadala jara, Mexico, where he saw wife Sara run off with the gold medal in the women's 3000meter steeplechase final. "Oh, Sara was just great at the Pan Ams," he said. "She ran a powerful race and beat a quality field. [And now has the problem of choosing her primary Olympic event for 2012.] "It was fun to be there and fun to watch her win." But he couldn't really relish the full occasion because he had a flight to catch and corpo rate appointments to make and photoshoots to do back "north of the border." He handled lots more corporate business to the backdrop of the ING NYC Marathon, but couldn't wait to head out to resume full focus on training for Houston. He has no regrets about running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (in 2:08:04 on Oct. 9) and considers it the perfect prep for Houston. Most other leading Americans stayed away.) "I got to run against a quality field and got to see where I stood with runners that good," he stressed. "I tried a li le bit of new stuff and am sure I learned a lot from running it. " Now it will be back to his alterna ng training bases in Flagstaff, Arizona and Redding, Cal ifornia. Flagstaff's perfect for al tude prepara on; Redding for tempo work. Highvolume cycles will rotate sessions of highspeed work. While passing up the 2011 ING NYC Marathon, he s ll "caught the fever" of the Big Apple classic. Apart from the Olympic Trials race in 2007 (held on a loop course in Central Park), he'd run only one previous NYC 26.2miler. That was 2009 when he ran a disappoin ngtohimself (but not many others) 2:10:36. "I was kind of flat going in and made some mistakes back in 2009," he remembers. "For one thing, I went out too fast. The first 5 miles felt like I was in a 5mile race. By 18 miles, I was pre y much struggling. "But that performance, and knowing I can do a lot be er, only makes me hunger to go back some me." A perfect me to return to NYC would seem to be November 2012–hopefully, a er a major Trials performance, an upwiththeleaders finish in the London Olympic Games, and a return home to tackle all the other goals that have been placed on hold. Beyond NYC, there's a much longer, much tougher one. That's the Rim to Rim and Back 41.8mile (with 10,710 feet of ups and downs) course at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The path starts on the South Rim, descends the South Kaibab Trail, crosses the Colorado River, then rises up the North Rim on the North Kaibab Trail. And then it's back the same way.
With all his training work at Flagstaff, about an hourplus from Grand Canyon, he's gained new apprecia on of what that one would entail. It's already on his "bucket list." He knows it would be the fun jaunt of his life.
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The men's record of 6:56:59 was set by Dave Mackey in 2007.
And that's what he always wants his running to be—fun. "I have this short period in my life to be a worldclass runner," he philosophizes. "It's given me some great opportuni es. And I want to enjoy every one of them."
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Shalane Flanagan Looks to Fulfil Her Destiny as Running Royalty by Jon Gugala
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You can talk about your Davilas, your Gouchers, and your darkhorse picks for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Houston. But examine enough topthree lists and you’ll find a common denominator: Shalane Flanagan, 30, of Portland, Ore. Why have so many predicted her podium finish among the deepest women’s field ever to toe the line of a trials race? Here’s why. First, the Marblehead, Mass., na ve has the pedigree. Unlike other top U.S. women marathoners, sprung from the loins of Average Joes, Flanagan’s mother, Cheryl Treworgy (nee Bridges) is a former marathon world recordholder, and Flanagan’s father, Steve, a 2:18 marathoner, competed wearing the red, white, and blue at the World Cross Country Championships. Flanagan has been weaned on running, and her high school state records and NCAA championships were as predictable as a lioness cub devouring her first wildebeest. Then there’s Flanagan’s ability to produce staggering re sults her first me at bat. Case in point: Flanagan debuted at the 10,000m in 2008 and set the American Record. She ran a half marathon for the first me at the 2011 USA Half Marathon Championships, winning and se ng a course record (1:09:45). Most per nent, in her marathon debut at the New York City marathon in 2010, she kept a level head in one of the more bizarrely evolving, slowstar ng World Marathon Majors races ever, and took the run nerup spot in 2:28:40, spli ng a pair of women (Edna Kiplagat and Mary Keitany) that would run 2:20 and 2:19, respec vely, the following spring. While Flanagan hasn’t raced a marathon in 2011, she has proven she as just as sharp in the shorter distances as she was at her peak, which foreshadows trouble for her fel low U.S. marathoners. She was the bronze medalist at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, and in late spring, she ran 30:39.57 at the Payton Jordan Invita onal 10,000m, which wasn’t far off her own American Record (30:22:22). Then over the summer, a er another USATF 10,000m Championship, she gave a good scare to Molly Huddle, the current 5000m American Recordholder (which Flanagan formerly held), running 14:45 and 14:46 (the current record is 14:44.76) in the space of three weeks. One might argue that track results prove li le when it comes to road racing. To that, Flanagan answers with the fastest tuneup races of the field this fall, running 1:10:49 in San Antonio in November and 1:09:58 in Miami in December. It was the same in 2010 before New York, when she set her half marathon PR of 1:08:36 in Philadelphia. If this is business as usual, American women might as well relegate themselves to second and third. It’s for these reasons that Flanagan enters the 2012 Olympic Team Trials as the favorite. In a sense, she has become her own worst enemy: Flanagan is the an climax, the rhetorical ques on, the foregone conclusion. She is the Harlem Globetro ers playing your local community college team. But coming from the stock that she has, this is her des ny. The princess stands poised to claim her crown in Houston.
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Kara Goucher Eyes Her Competition at the 2012 Olympic Team Trials by Jon Gugala
Kara Goucher is quick to dismiss her performance at the 2011 Boston Marathon. Her 2:24:26 PR—the secondfastest me of all U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifiers, and ed for 7th on the all me list—she chalks up to the weather. She sounds disappointed. Only a er prodding will the 33yearold na ve from Duluth, Minnesota grudgingly admit that a PR is a PR. But it’s with such reluctance that it s cks sideways in your throat. So you turn it over in your head. You pry into it. You walk around it, inspec ng it from different angles. And then, like one of those Magic Eye puzzles from the early 90s that, by moving back and forth, makes a sail boat appear, Goucher’s reason emerges: It has nothing to do with me. It has everything to do with compe on. “I knew 10 miles in it wasn’t going to happen,“ Goucher says of Boston. “It turned into a survivaltype run.“ A PR could and did happen—by nearly a minute and a half, even if it felt like survival. What Goucher speaks of with such long ing was the win. For Goucher, as you flip through her PRs, from the track to the road, you’ll soon no ce that they’ve never come from me trial–style races.
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Her 5000m PR? Set in 2007, Goucher was chasing eventual 2011 5000m/10,000m world champ Vivian Cheruiyot for 3rd in a Golden League meet in Berlin. Her 10,000m best? It was set in the final of the 2008 Olympics.
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HOUSTON 2012 ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT Goucher’s crowning achievement from her early career could be her reckless move from the lead pack of the 2007 Great North Run Half Marathon, launching from world record–holder in the marathon Paula Radcliffe, in what Goucher claims was an act of such novice audacity that she cringes when she thinks back on it. “Yeah, honestly, the reason I ran so fast is I found myself ahead of her, and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m such an idiot. How did I put myself in this posi on? I need to make this happen or I’m going to look like a fool,’“ she says. The result was 1:06:57, an American best by nearly 40 seconds. (Goucher’s mark would not supplant Deena Kastor’s American Record of 1:07:34, as the course’s netdownhill profile was deemed ineligible for record purposes.) “I didn’t know what a good half marathon was or wasn’t. Now, looking back, I’m like, ‘That was pre y damn good,’“ she says. For Boston in 2011, Goucher chalks her lack of conten on to too much, too fast. “I wasn’t ready, really, to run a marathon,“ she says. “I pushed quite a bit a er coming back from Colt.“ Goucher refers to her and husband, Adam’s, first son, Colton Mirko, whom she delivered on Sept. 24, 2010, a mere 7 months before the Boston marathon. But Colt was only the first of many changes over the last year and a half. A er Boston, Goucher took her disappointment and training volume and funneled it onto the track. She was the runnerup to future training partner and American recordholder Shalane Flanagan at the USATF Championships in the 10,000m, eager for another World Champi onships contest, the site of her breakout performance in 2007 where she was the surprise bronze medalist in the distance. The irony was that in 2007, Goucher was coming off an in jury, and in 2011, as she prepared to compete in Daegu, South Korea, an injury was looming on the horizon. Five weeks before Goucher’s trip to the IAAF World Championships, what had been a nagging hip pain since her son’s birth was diagnosed as a stress reac on in her femoral neck. Therapy and rest did li le to curtail it, and the result was a disappoin ng 13thplace performance on the world stage. It was followed by 5 weeks completely off running—a lessthan ideal circumstance while preparing for your first Olympic Trials marathon. During Goucher’s convalescence was yet another drama c change. On Oct. 23, a er several weeks of rumors, she announced she’d be leaving coach Alberto Salazar, whom she and Adam had been with since 2004, to make a parallel move to the Portlandbased Jerry Schumacher group, which was home to, among others Flanagan and NCAA 10,000m record holder Lisa Uhl, two of the brightest stars in U.S. distance running. “I wanted to be held more accountable,” Goucher says. “Alberto was taking on some big me athletes and has to travel a lot more than he used to, so I was by myself quite a bit, and it was just Adam and me,” she says, laughing. “I could slack a li le bit, or I could tell him, ‘I was up all night with the baby.’ He wasn’t going to be, ‘No, Kara, suck it up.’ “When I’m with a group of women, they don’t care if I’ve been up all night. They’re hi ng the pace, and I’m going to get le behind if I don’t have the pace.” For Goucher, who has depended so heavily on compe on to s m ulate her progression, her new training partners have put her in her natural environment in which to excel. Goucher’s other reason to switch was for the training group itself.
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For much of her postbaby training with Salazar, husband Adam was her sole training partner, without whom she claims her Boston race wouldn’t have been possible. “He saved me; he got me out the door,” she says. But while Adam responded admirably as the suppor ve husband, he’s had his own goals in running. At the University of Colorado, Adam was a four me NCAA champion (cross country, outdoor 5000m, and twice indoor 3000m), and later an Olympic trials champion in the 5000m (2000). But Adam was also frequently plagued by injuries. A er suffering yet another in the fall of 2011, which interrupted his plans of a marathon debut at the 2012 Olympic Team Trials, he announced his re rement. It was a huge decision, one that Kara empathizes with. Besides her new training partners, Goucher has also had to acclimate to a new training philosophy. Schumacher’s training differs in many ways from Salazar’s. She’s running higher milage and longer workouts: “Mind numbingly long. They go on for hours, and I want to kill myself,“ she says but when you’re done, you’re done, she says. There are no more under water treadmills or body weight–displacing running aids. There are no more gimmicks. “I thought I was working as hard as anyone else, and I’ve learned that I haven’t been,“ she says. The focus for the Trials is ge ng into a solid fitness level. “[Shalane and I
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are] just trying to get as fit as possible, to run as fast as comfortable, to know that we can run a certain pace, and then we have to see what other people do,“ Goucher says. “I think that if I can get myself in 2:25, 2:26 shape, that will be good enough. If I run 2:25 and it isn’t good enough, hat’s off. That’s an amazing team,“ she adds.
the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trails looming, with what could arguably be the deepest women’s field ever assembled, those who write her off, com paring her to the injuryfree Shalanes and Davilas and Has ngs and Lewy Boulets, are overlooking history. Goucher is not good because she’s fast—a er all, the fastest marathoner in the world, Paula Radcliffe, has never won a medal in the Olympics. Kara Goucher is good because she’s compe ve. In fact, her compe veness has outshined her mes and, most importantly, has di rectly fueled them. It’s something will ensure that her impact will be felt at the finish line on Jan. 14.
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KARA GOUCHER Goucher makes magic happen when she’s fit, and though she says she has “crazy dreams“ of metrial races to plumb the depths of her limits, her history has shown that in compe on that brings out her best. With
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Californians at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon
Best Marks by Mark Winitz, courtesy of California Track & Running News
Will Californians Deliver Again at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon? Or maybe, the real ques on is: Can they possibly deliver even more this me? In 2008 it was easy for me to predict that Golden State women had a decent chance of sweeping the top three spots at the women's Marathon Trials in Boston. They did, as Deena Kastor (Mammoth Lakes), Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Oakland) and Blake Rus sell (Pacific Grove) led the way to Beijing. A few months before, at the men's Trials race in New York City, Ryan Hall (Redding), one of the prerace favorites, ascended the winner's podium. Will California, once again, showcase its deep distance talent at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Houston on Jan. 14, where separate trials races will determine the three men and three women who will represent the U.S. at the Olympics in London? That's an easy one to answer. At our editorial deadline a month before the Trials, 383 athletes (158 men, 225 women) had met the qualifying standards for entry into the event. Among the qualifiers, 65 athletes hail from California. That's 17% of all qualifiers. No other state comes close to these numbers (although Colorado, with a popula on of 5 million compared to California's 37 million, posts 45 qualifiers). In quality, too, California has no peers. Nine Californians bring the benefits of Olympic experience to the 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon: Kastor, Lewy Boulet, Russell, Hall, Meb Keflezighi (Mam moth Lakes), Bolota Asmerom (San Leandro), Dan Browne ( Chula Vista/Mammoth Lakes), Jen Rhines (Mammoth Lakes), and Linda Somers Smith (Arroyo Grande). Although interna onal experience at the top levels of our sport certainly provides an edge, it doesn't necessarily predict success at a onechance trials event at the o enunpredictable marathon dis tance. With young American athletes eager and capable of taking the reins, perhaps in unprecedented numbers, the most compe ve marathon trials in U.S. history is likely in store. "Having run the Olympic Trials Marathon in 2004 and 2008 will hopefully help with the nerves for Houston," said Russell, who, like Kastor and Lewy Boulet, juggles motherhood around her demanding training schedule. "Going into the 2008 trials, I accurately predicted the [women's] marathon team before the gun went off. But this trials will be much different with returning veterans and many notable newbies to the distance. It will be an exci ng race, to say the least." Conven onal wisdom says that the top three slots at the marathon trials will be composed of one runner in the very top U.S. ranks, one highly ranked (but not necessarily favorite) compe tor, and one "surpriser." But that percep on is changing as new, young talent comes to the fore. With the qualifying window about to close as of this wri ng, the top three men's qualifying mes at the full marathon distance were all set by marathon veterans: Hall's 2:04:58 set at the 2011 Boston Marathon Keflezighi's 2:09:13 at the 2011 New York City Marathon, and Dathan Ritzenhein's (Oregon) 2:10:00 from the 2009 London Marathon. Yet none of the top qualifiers are taking their creden als for granted. Not even Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic Marathon Silver medal ist. Not even Hall, who tamed what had been thought of as a slow and difficult course at the 2008 Men's Olympic Trials in New York City, breaking the Olympic Trials record with a winning me of 2:09:02. "I don't even like to men on names because you never know who your biggest rival might be," said Hall. “Some people out there haven't even run a marathon before." (See the explana on below regarding qualifying standards for more on this topic.) To be sure, a bevy of young, rela vely new talent is also among the top qualifiers. For example, former Aptos prep Bre Gotcher, age
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27 (now an Arizona resident), recorded a 2:10:36 debut marathon at Houston in 2010. Gotcher's McMillan Elite teammate, Nick Arcini aga, 28, lowered his PR to 2:11:30 at last January's Houston Marathon, where he placed 2nd. Arciniaga is a Fountain Valley High School and Cal State Fullerton grad. How about 26yearold Mo Trafeh (Duarte, CA)? Although an "infant" at the marathon distance, Trafeh outkicked Hall and won the 2011 USA Half Marathon Champs in Houston on a course de signed to emulate the fourloop course athletes will tackle at the Olympic Trials and also in London at the Olympic Games. Plus, Trafeh's 1:00:39 half marathon personal best (2010 NYC Half Marathon) converts to an impressive 2:07:01 26.2miler. Going into the women's trials race, Lewy Boulet, 38, has the thirdfastest qualifying me (2:26:22, 2010 London Marathon). Kas tor, also 38, will be a sen mental favorite. A er all, the three me Olympian is a 2004 Olympic marathon Bronze medalist and the U.S. marathon record holder (2:19:36). Russell, 36, considered re rement a er the birth of her son, Quin, in 2009 when she struggled with sleepless nights tending to the infant. But Bob Sevene, the legendary coach who has coached Russell for 12 years, has guided her back into form. Like the favored men, these women and others will face younger talent—such as Minnesota's Desiree Davila (age 28, 2:22:28), Oregon's Kara Goucher (33, 2:24:52) and Shalane Flanagan (30, 2:28:40), plus California's Amy Has ngs (27, Mammoth Lakes), whose 2:27:03 at the 2011 Los Angeles Marathon was the third fastest debut at the distance by an American woman. So, can Californians come through in unprecedented fashion in Houston and top their four U.S. Olympic marathon team spots that they earned in 2008? My answer: an empha c YES! Interes ng 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon Facts • The Men's and Women's LDR Commi ees of USATF have different sets of qualifying criteria for the Olympic Trials Marathon. Men have one set of standards only, considered "A" standards. Men who have achieved these standards (marathon: 2:19:00 and under; half marathon: 1:05:00 and under; 10,000m: 28:30 and under) get their expenses paid for the trials. Women may achieve an "A" standard (marathon: 2:39:00 and under), for which their expenses are paid, or a "B" standard (marathon: 2:39:01–2:46:00; half marathon: 1:15:00 and under; 10,000m: 33:00 and under) for which expenses are not paid. These differences account for the fact that more women qualified for the trials than men. The Men's LDR Commi ee set its "A" standardonly policy be fore the Olympic Trials Marathon based on MLDR chair Glenn La mer's asser on that the bar needed to be set higher to encourage excellence, and two me Olympian Dan Browne's view that men shouldn't be in the trials if they're unable to run faster than Deena Kastor's 2:19:36 U.S. women's record. The Women's LDR Commi ee has chosen to retain a "B" qualifying standard to allow more women to par cipate in the trials, even if they have li le or no chance of making the podium. • The San Franciscobased Impala Racing Team boasts 13 women who have qualified for the Olympic Trials Marathon, perhaps the most female qualifiers of any running club in the country.
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• Linda Somers Smith, 50, of Arroyo Grande, is the oldest women's qualifier for the 2012 Olympic Trials. The 1996 marathon Olympian qualified for her seventh consecu ve Olympic Trials Marathon at the 2010 Los Angeles Marathon with a me of 2:36:33. As far as we know, no other woman has qualified for seven U.S. Olympic Trials Marathons (not even Joan Benoit Samuelson, who qualified six mes). • The 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon will be the first me that
both the men's and women's Marathon Trials will take place on the same day, at the same site. On Saturday Jan. 14, the men start at 8 a.m. (6 a.m. Pacific) and the women will start 15 minutes later. • NBC will broadcast 2 hours of sameday coverage from 3–5 p.m. Eastern. The comprehensive coverage will be the first me that both men's and women's Olympic Trials are televised on the same day.
THOUGHTS FROM CALIFORNIA'S OLYMPIC VETS
Ryan Hall Strategy: "I don't really like to have a strategy. My strategy is to be as fit as possible. The more fit you are, the more possibili es you have, and the more ways you can run. My idea is to be ready for anyone who makes any type of move and be able to respond. And then, if I'm in a posi on to make a move my self, to do whatever my body tells me is the right me. So, I go into these races with a very open mind. I think that's the key."
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PR: 2:04:58 (2011) Goals: "I've had two of my three best marathons in the last year leading up to the Olympic Trials. I'm ap proaching the trials the same way that I approach all my marathons. I'm con nuing to go a er a break through and get myself as fit as I've ever been. The goal is to show up on the star ng line as fit as possible, run my heart out, and let the cards fall."
Confidence: "Having run a lot of marathons, I know that I can run a lot of different ways and be success ful. And, I think having been to the Trials before will help me get back [to the Trials podium]."
Meb Keflezighi PR: 2:09:13 (2011) Ambi on: "I'll have something to prove in Houston. My goal is top three."
Experience: "It's always an honor to try your best and represent your country. Experience should help me be in the mix. It will come down to the last 10K to be a contender and make the team. I hope to be one of them."
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Philosophy: "Like the marathon, life can some mes be difficult, challenging and present obstacles; how ever, if you believe in your dreams and never, ever give up, things will turn out for the best."
Editor's Note: The 2004 Olympic marathon Silver medalist fractured his pelvis during the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials and was le literally crawling. He finished in 8th place. His close friend and fellow marathoner, Ryan Shay, suffered a cardiac arrest at the Trials and died that same day.
Deena Kastor PhotoRun.NET
PR: 2:19:36 (2006) Quality and Depth of Compe on: "My an cipa on is growing as the Trials near. The Houston organizers are doing an amazing job at catering to athletes and fans. This will be the toughest Trials race in our marathon history as the field is super talented. Right now I'm at the height of my training and I know I will have prepared the best I can come January. I just hope my best is good enough to make my fourth Olympic team. It's safe to say that between the men's and women's marathon talent in our country, we will earn more than one medal in this event in London."
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Magdalena Lewy Boulet Prepara on: "So far training has been going fine. I've been healthy for the most part. I've only run two races, which is less than I normally run in a marathon buildup. The 5K in New York went well, the half marathon was not as fast as I'd hoped, but any me you get to win a race it's a good day."
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PR: 2:26:22 (2010) Goals: "This Women's Olympic Trials Marathon is shaping up to be the most compe ve Trials race the U.S. has ever seen. My only goal is to finish in the top three, regardless of me, but in order for that to happen, I'll most likely have to be in PR shape. So I'm hoping to be in the best shape of my life."
Blake Russell
Training Approach: "I'm happy with how my training has been going the last few months. I've logged some good miles and put in some solid marathon workouts. My coach, Bob Sevene, always emphasizes that it's the whole package, not just a few workouts or long runs. Ul mately, consistency is the key. I've learned to take marathon training one week at a me, and not to panic when you don't feel great all the me."
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PR: 2:29:10 (2005) Toddlers and Training: "A er Beijing, it seemed like an eternity before I had to worry about the next Olympic Trials, and now here they are... . I can't say everything since the 2008 Trials has gone according to plan, but then when do things always go perfect? Life has been a li le bit different since Beijing with a very sweet and ac ve 21⁄2yearold boy to chase. Though I vaguely remember the days when I used to come in from a run and relax, I'm now rushing back to take Quin to the park or play along the ocean. Al though I'm busier and more red, I wouldn't change a thing."
Jen Rhines PhotoRun.NET
PR: 2:29:32 (2006) Dark Horse?: "It wasn't in my original plans for 2012 to run the Marathon Trials but a er a disappoin ng race at the ING New York City Marathon I decided to regroup and give it a go. I'm back up to speed now and feel like I have a personal best effort in me. I view myself as a dark horse in the race for the podium posi ons. I have the experience and capability, but I've been inconsistent at the marathon distance. It will take a phenomenal effort from all three women who make this Olympic Marathon Team. I'm looking forward to being part of it."
Linda Somers Smith PhotoRun.NET
PR: 2:30:06 (1996) Realism: "I'm excited to be going to my seventh trials. I believe I'll do well but will not be compe ve. The field is incredible. It is definitely the fastest and deepest women's field of any Trials, and we'll end up with an incredible team. Unlike prior years, the dark horses are actually proven runners rather than un known ones. As for my expecta ons, I believe I will run well but likely won't be in the top 20, even on my best day. So, I just plan to run a conserva ve race, with hopes of breaking 2:40. I'm in shape to do that or a bit faster."
2424 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon
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U.S. MEN’S OLYMPIC TRIALS MARATHON HISTORY (1968-2008) Since 1968, the U.S. Olympic marathon team has been selected at the Trials race. The top three earned coveted spots on the team (in recent Olympics, provided Olympic “A” standards were met). Before 1968, the U.S. Olympic marathoners were selected based on a series of marathon races. The history of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, albeit short, is rich and storied. 1972 Olympic gold medalist and 1976 Olympic silver medalist in the marathon, Frank Shorter is the only man to finish first in consecu ve U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. In 1984, Pete Pfitzinger had the lead, lost the lead in the last mile and re claimed the lead to win. At the 1988 Trials race, Mark Conover pulled a major upset with a stunning victory, while in 1996, Bob Kempainen won the race and a berth on his second Olympic team despite throw ing up several mes in the la er stages of the race. At the 2000 Trials race, the winner, Rod deHaven, only had the Olympic Marathon “B” me standard (2:20 or faster) and thus, because the Trials champion was guaranteed an Olympic berth, he was the only U.S. male repre senta ve for the Olympic Marathon (the first me that the U.S. did not field a full marathon team). At the 2008 OMT held in 2007 in New York City’s Central Park, Ryan Hall produced a sublime 2:09:02 against one of the best U.S. fields in the marathon.
1968: ALAMOSA, COLORADO Sunday, August 18
129 Entrants (no qualifying me), 113 Starters, 63 Finishers, at al tude5.2 mile loop 5 mes plus 385 yards 1) George Young (AZ) 2:30:48 (debut) 2) Kenny Moore (OR) 2:31:47 3) Ron Daws (MN) 2:33:09 4) Bob Deines (CA) 2:33:13 5) Steve Ma hews (CO) 2:33:17
1972: EUGENE, OREGON Sunday, July 9
Time standard = 2:30:00 100 Starters, 66 Finishers 1) Kenny Moore (OR) 1) Frank Shorter (CO) 3) Jack Bacheler (FL) 4) Jeff Galloway (FL) 5) Greg Brock (CA)
2:15:58# ( e), Trials record 2:15:58# 2:20:30 2:20:30 2:22:30
#Trials record (previous record, 2:30:48, George Young, Alamosa 1968)
1976: EUGENE, OREGON Saturday, May 22
Time standard = 2:23:00 87 Qualifiers, 77 Starters, 49 Finishers 1) Frank Shorter (FL) 2:11:51#, Trials record 2) Bill Rodgers (MA) 2:11:58 3) Don Kardong (WA) 2:13:54 4) Tony Sandoval (CA) 2:14:58 5) Tom Fleming (NJ) 2:15:48
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#Trials record (previous record, 2:15:58, Frank Shorter and Kenny Moore, Eugene 1972)
1980: BUFFALO, NEW YORK Saturday, May 24
Time standard = 2:21:54 269 Qualifiers, 192 Starters, 125 Finishers 1) Tony Sandoval (NM) 2:10:19#, Trials record 2) Benji Durden (GA) 2:10:41 3) Kyle Heffner (TX) 2:10:55 4) Ron Tabb (TX) 2:12:39 5) Jeff Wells (TX) 2:13:16 56 men under 2:20:00 – Trials and U.S. record in same race #Trials record (previous record, 2:11:51, Frank Shorter, Eugene 1976)
1984: BUFFALO, NEW YORK
60th USA Men’s Championship – 5th U.S. Men’s Olympic Marathon Trials Saturday, May 26 Time standard = 2:19:04 201 Qualifiers, 172 Starters, 108 Finishers 1) Pete Pfitzinger (NY) 2:11:43 2) Alberto Salazar (OR) 2:11:44 3) John Tu le (GA) 2:11:50 4) Dave Gordon (OR) 2:11:59 5) Dean Ma hews (OR) 2:12:25
1988: JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY Sunday, April 24
Time standard = 2:20:00 132 Qualifiers, 115 Starters, 77 Finishers Prize money = $150,000 1) Mark Conover (CA) 2:12:26 $50,000 2) Ed Eyestone (UT) 2:12:49 $25,000 3) Pete Pfitzinger (MA) 2:13:09 $20,000 4) Paul Gompers (MA) 2:14:20 $15,000 5) Mark Curp (MO) 2:14:40 $10,000
1992: COLUMBUS, OHIO Saturday, April 11 Time standard = 2:20:00 108 Qualifiers, 102 Starters, 55 Finishers Prize money = $214,000 1) Steve Spence (PA) 2) Ed Eyestone (UT) 3) Bob Kempainen (MN) 4) Keith Brantly (FL) 5) Bill Reifsnyder (NM)
2:12:43 $58,000* 2:12:51 $48,000* 2:12:54 $38,000* 2:14:16 $15,000 2:15:45 $10,000
*Includes $2000 me bonus ($1000 for sub2:14 and $1000 for sub 2:13) and $16,000 Olympic training s pend
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1996: CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA Saturday, February 17
Time standard = 2:20:00 (A); 2:22:00 (B) 135 Qualifiers, 116 Starters, 90 Finishers Prize money = $250,000 1) Bob Kempainen (MN) 2:12:45 $100,000, Trials record first place purse 2) Mark Coogan (CO) 2:13:05 $40,000 3) Keith Brantly (FL) 2:13:22 $30,000 4) Steve Plasencia (MN) 2:14:20 $20,000 5) Marco Ochoa (CO) 2:14:22 $15,000
2000: PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA Sunday, May 7
Time standard = 2:20:00 (A); 2:22:00 (B) 114 Qualifiers, 99 Starters, 78 Finishers Prize money = $225,000 1) Rod DeHaven (WI) 2:15:30 $75,000* 2) Peter DeLaCerda (CO) 2:16:18 $25,000 3) Mark Coogan (MD) 2:17:04 $20,000 4) Sco Larson (CO) 2:17:15 $17,500 5) Eddy Hellebuyck (NM) 2:18:30 $15,000 *Includes $35,000 Olympic Team Bonus
2004: BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA Saturday, February 7
Time standard = 2:20:00 (A); 2:22:00 (B)
104 Qualifiers, 85 Starters, 70 Finishers Mul loop course Prize money = $271,000 (Trials record) 1) Alan Culpepper (CO) 2:11:42 $89,000* 2) Meb Keflezighi (CA) 2:11:47 $60,500* 3) Dan Browne (OR) 2:12:02 $47,000* 4) Trent Briney (MI) 2:12:35 $16,000 5) Clint Verran (MI) 2:14:37 $13,000 *Plus $25,000, $22,500 and $20,000 Olympic Team Bonus
2008: NEW YORK CITY, NY Saturday, November 3, 2007
Time standard = 2:20:00 (A); 2:22:00 (B) Also: “B” for 5000m (track) = 13:40.00 & 10,000m (track) = 28:45.00 179 Qualifiers, 130 Starters, 104 Finishers 5loop course in Central Park Prize money = $250,000 1) Ryan Hall (CA) 2:09:02# $80,000*, Trials and USA Championship record 2) Dathan Ritzenhein (OR) 2:11:07 $60,000* 3) Brian Sell (MI) 2:11:40 $50,000* 4) Khalid Khannouchi (NY) 2:12:34 $20,000 5) Jason Lehmkuhle (MN) 2:12:54 $12,000 #Trials and USA Championship record (previous Trials record, 2:10:19, Tony Sandoval, 1980 and USA Championship record, 2:10:41, Bill Donakowski, 1986) *Includes $20,000 bonus for Olympic Marathon par cipa on top 3 qualifiers SOURCE: USATF and Running USA
U.S. WOMEN’S OLYMPIC TRIALS MARATHON HISTORY (1968-2008) Unlike the men, Olympic marathon team selec on for 1984 U.S. women has always been determined at the Olympic Trials, a oneday final. The first U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials was held on May 12, 1984 and hosted by Olympia, Washington. The past seven Olympic Trials have produced exci ng races and poignant stories from Joan Benoit’s amazing victory in Olympia to the triumphant return of Margaret Groos in Pi sburgh to Janis Klecker’s recovery from a fall in Houston to the shockers in Columbia with Jenny Spangler (1996) and Chris Clark (2000) to Colleen de Reuck’s upset of Deena Kastor to Kastor’s comeback win in 2008 plus Lisa Weiden‐ bach’s (nee Larsen’s) three heartbreaking fourth place finishes (1984, 1988 and 1992).
1984: OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON Saturday, May 12
Time standard = 2:51:16 267 Qualifiers, 238 Starters, 196 Finishers 1) Joan Benoit (ME) 2:31:04 2) Julie Brown (OR) 2:31:41 3) Julie Isphording (OH) 2:32:26 4) Lisa Larsen (MI) 2:33:10
5) Margaret Groos (VA)
2:33:38
109 women broke 2:50:00 – Trials and U.S. record in same race
1988: PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA Sunday, May 1
Time standard = 2:50:00 246 Qualifiers, 204 Starters, 159 Finishers Prize money = $157,500 1) Margaret Groos (FL) 2:29:50# $25,000, Trials record 2) Nancy Ditz (CA) 2:30:14 $25,000 3) Cathy O’Brien (NH) 2:30:18 $25,000 4) Lisa Weidenbach (WA) 2:31:06 $15,000 5) Kim Jones (WA) 2:32:16 $10,000 #Trials record (previous record, 2:31:04, Joan Benoit, Olympia 1984) and course and state records (previous record, 2:31:53, Sylvia Rueg ger (CAN), 1987) Con nued On Page 28
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1992: HOUSTON, TEXAS
2004: ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Time standard = 2:45:00 118 Qualifiers, 89 Starters, 65 Finishers Prize money = $77,500 1) Janis Klecker (MN) 2:30:12 $20,000 2) Cathy O’Brien (NH) 2:30:26 $20,000 3) Francie Larrieu Smith (TX) 2:30:39 $20,000 4) Lisa Weidenbach (WA) 2:33:32 $5,000 5) Chris ne McNamara (CO) 2:34:35 $4,000
Time standard = 2:39:59 (A); 2:48:00 (B) Mul loop course in Forest Park 151 Qualifiers, 121 starters, 106 FinishersPrize money = $250,000 1) Colleen De Reuck (CO) 2:28:25# $45,000*, Trials record 2) Deena Kastor (CA) 2:29:38 $40,000* 3) Jen Rhines (CA) 2:29:57 $35,000* 4) Blake Russell (MA) 2:30:32 $18,000 5) Magdalena Lewy Boulet (CA) 2:30:50 $16,000
Sunday, January 26
Saturday, April 3
1996: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA Saturday, February 10
Time standard = 2:42:00 (A); 2:50:00 (B) 187 Qualifiers, 160 Starters, 129 FinishersPrize purse = $250,000 1) Jenny Spangler (IL) 2:29:54 $45,000 2) Linda Somers (CA) 2:30:06 $40,000 3) Anne Marie Lauck (GA) 2:31:18 $35,000 4) Gwyn Coogan (CO) 2:33:51 $18,000 5) Kristy Johnston (CO) 2:34:21 $16,000
2000: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA Saturday, February 26
Time standard = 2:42:00 (A); 2:50:00 (B) 210 Qualifiers, 170 Starters, 141 Finishers Prize money = $230,000 1) Chris Clark (AK) 2:33:31 $45,000* 2) Kristy Johnston (WV) 2:35:36 $30,000 3) Anne Marie Lauck (NJ) 2:36:05 $25,000 4) Susannah Beck (OR) 2:36:46 $18,000 5) Liz Wilson (OR) 2:37:27 $16,000 *Includes $10,000 bonus for Olympic Marathon par cipa on where Clark finished 19th in a personal record (2:31:35).
#Trials record (previous record, 2:29:50, Margaret Groos, Pi sburgh 1988) and course and state records (previous record, 2:35:37, Sara Wells, 2003) *Includes $10,000 bonus for Olympic Marathon par cipa on
2008: BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Sunday, April 20 Time standard = 2:39:00 (A); 2:47:00 (B) Also: “B” for 10,000m (track) = 33:00.00 Mul loop course in downtown Boston 181 Qualifiers, 146 starters, 124 Finishers Prize money = $250,000 1) Deena Kastor (CA) 2:29:35 $60,000*, Trials record first place purse 2) Magdalena Lewy Boulet (CA) 2:30:19 $50,000* 3) Blake Russell (CA) 2:32:40 $40,000* 4) Zoila Gomez (CO) 2:33:53 $20,000 5) Tera Moody (CO) 2:33:54 $15,000
*Includes $10,000 bonus for Olympic Marathon par cipa on SOURCE: USA Track & Field and Running USA
MEN’S OLYMPIC MARATHON MEDALISTS AND U.S. RESULTS 1968 MEXICO CITY, MEXICO Sunday, October 20, pointtopoint course
Compe tors: 75, Finishers: 57, Na ons: 41 WB: 2:09:37, Derek Clayton (AUS) 1) Mamo Wolde ETH 2) Kenji Kimihara JPN 3) Michael Ryan NZL 14) Kenny Moore USA 16) George Young USA 22) Ron Daws USA
2:20:27 2:23:31 2:23:45 2:29:50 2:31:15 2:33:53
1972 MUNICH, GERMANY Sunday, September 10
Compe tors: 74, Finishers: 62, Na ons: 39 WB: 2:08:34, Derek Clayton (AUS)
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2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon
1) Frank Shorter 2) Karel Lismont 3) Mamo Wolde 4) Kenny Moore 9) Jack Bacheler
USA BEL ETH USA USA
2:12:20 2:14:32 2:15:09 2:15:40 2:17:39
1976 MONTREAL, CANADA Saturday, July 31
Compe tors: 67, Finisher: 60, Na ons: 36 WB: 2:08:34, Derek Clayton (AUS) 1) Waldemar Cierpinski GDR 2:09:55, Olympic Record 2) Frank Shorter USA 2:10:46 3) Karel Lismont BEL 2:11:13 4) Don Kardong USA 2:11:16 40) Bill Rodgers USA 2:25:15
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1980 MOSCOW, SOVIET UNION
1996 ATLANTA, UNITED STATES
Compe tors: 74, Finishers: 53, Na ons: 40 WB: 2:08:34, Derek Clayton (AUS) 1) Waldemar Cierpinski GDR 2:11:03 2) Gerald Nijboer HOL 2:11:20 3) Satymkul Dzhumanazarov URS 2:11:35
Time standard = 2:16:00 (A); 2:25:00 (B) Compe tors: 124, Finishers: 111, Na ons: 79 WB: 2:06:50, Belayneh Densimo (ETH) 1) Josiah Thugwane RSA 2:12:36 2) Lee BongJu KOR 2:12:39 3) Eric Wainaina KEN 2:12:44 28) Keith Brantly USA 2:18:17 31) Bob Kempainen USA 2:18:38 41) Mark Coogan USA 2:20:27
Friday, August 1
U.S. boyco , marathon team members were: Tony Sandoval, Benji Durden and Kyle Heffner.
1984 LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
Sunday, August 4
Sunday, August 12, pointtopoint course
2000 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Compe tors: 107, Finishers: 78, Na ons: 59 WB: 2:08:18, Rob De Castella (AUS) 1) Carlos Lopes POR 2:09:21, Olympic Record 2) John Treacy IRL 2:09:56 3) Charles Spedding GBR 2:09:58 11) Pete Pfitzinger USA 2:13:53 15) Alberto Salazar USA 2:14:19 John Tu le DNF
Time standard = 2:14:00 (A); 2:20:00 (B)Compe tors: 100, Finishers: 81, Na ons: 66 WB: 2:05:42, Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 1) Gezahenge Abera ETH 2:10:11 2) Eric Wainaina KEN 2:10:31 3) Tesfaye Tola ETH 2:11:10 69) Rod DeHaven USA 2:30:46
Sunday, October 1, pointtopoint course
1988 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
2004 ATHENS, GREECE
Compe tors: 118, Finishers: 98, Na ons: 66 WB: 2:06:50, Belayneh Densimo (ETH) 1) Gelindo Bordin ITA 2:10:32 2) Douglas Wakiihuri KEN 2:10:47 3) Ahmed Salah DJI 2:10:591 4) Pete Pfitzinger USA 2:14:44 29) Ed Eyestone USA 2:19:09 Mark Conover USA DNF 51) Gary Fanelli USA* 2:25:35 *Represented American Samoa (U.S. territory).
Time standard = 2:15:00 (A); 2:18:00 (B) Marathon to AthensCompe tors: 101, Finishers: 81, Na ons: 60 WR: 2:04:55, Paul Tergat (KEN) 1) Stefano Baldini ITA 2:10:55 2) Meb Keflezighi USA 2:11:29 3) Vanderlei de Lima BRA 2:12:11 12) Alan Culpepper USA 2:15:26 65) Dan Browne USA 2:27:17
Sunday, October 2
1992 BARCELONA, SPAIN Sunday, August 9, pointtopoint course
Time standard = 2:14:00 Compe tors: 110, Finishers: 87, Na ons: 72 WB: 2:06:50, Belayneh Densimo (ETH) 1) Hwang YoungJo KOR 2:13:23 2) Koichi Morishita JPN 2:13:45 3) Stephan Freigang GER 2:14:00 12) Steve Spence USA 2:15:21 13) Ed Eyestone USA 2:15:23 17) Bob Kempainen USA 2:15:53
Sunday, August 29, hilly, pointtopoint course
2008 BEIJING, CHINA
Sunday, August 24, flat, pointtopoint course Time standard = 2:15:00 (A); 2:18:00 (B) Compe tors: 98, Finishers: 76, Na ons: 57 WR: 2:04:26, Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 1) Sammy Wanjiru KEN 2:06:32, Olympic Record 2) Jaouad Gharib MAR 2:07:16 3) Tsegay Kebede ETH 2:10:00 9) Dathan Ritzenhein USA 2:11:59 10) Ryan Hall USA 2:12:33 22) Brian Sell USA 2:16:07 Olympic Marathon Medalswon by U.S. men = 10 (most of any country) Gold (3) – Frank Shorter (Munich 1972), Johnny Hayes (London 1908), Thomas Hicks (St. Louis 1904) Silver (2) – Meb Keflezighi (Athens 2004), Frank Shorter (Montreal 1976) Bronze (5) – Clarence DeMar (Paris 1924), Gaston Strobino (Stock holm 1912), Joseph Forshaw (London 1908), William Frank (Athens 1906*), Arthur Newton (St. Louis 1904) *Athens 1906, Interim Olympics 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon
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WOMEN’S OLYMPIC MARATHON MEDALISTS AND U.S. RESULTS 1984 LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
2000 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Compe tors: 50, Finishers: 44, Na ons: 28 WB: 2:22:43, Joan Benoit (USA) 1) Joan Benoit USA 2:24:52, Olympic Record (inaugural event) 2) Grete Waitz NOR 2:26:18 3) Rosa Mota POR 2:26:57 36) Julie Brown USA 2:47:33 Julie Isphording USA DNF
Time standard = 2:33:00 (A); 2:45:00 (B) Compe tors: 54, Finishers: 45, Na ons: 36 WB: 2:20:43, Tegla Loroupe (KEN) 1) Naoko Takahashi JPN 2:23:14, Olympic Record 2) Lidia Simon ROM 2:23:22 3) Joyce Chepchumba KEN 2:24:45 19) Chris Clark USA 2:31:35
1988 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
Sunday, August 22, hilly, pointtopoint course
Sunday, August 5, pointtopoint course
Friday, September 23
Sunday, September 24, pointtopoint course
2004 ATHENS, GREECE
Time standard = 2:37:00 (A); 2:42:00 (B) Marathon to Athens Compe tors: 82, Finishers: 66, Na ons: 47 WR: 2:15:25, Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 1) Mizuki Noguchi JPN 2:26:20 2) Catherine Ndereba KEN 2:26:32 3) Deena Kastor USA 2:27:20 34) Jen Rhines USA 2:43:52 39) Colleen De Reuck USA 2:46:30
1992 BARCELONA, SPAIN
2008 BEIJING, CHINA
Time standard = 2:35:00 Compe tors: 47, Finishers: 37, Na ons: 31 WB: 2:21:06, Ingrid Kris ansen (NOR) 1) Valen na Yegorova RUS 2:32:41 2) Yuko Arimori JPN 2:32:49 3) Lorraine Moller NZL 2:33:59 10) Cathy O’Brien USA 2:39:42 12) Francie Larrieu Smith USA 2:41:09 21) Janis Klecker USA 2:47:17
Time standard = 2:37:00 (A); 2:42:00 (B) Compe tors: 82, Finishers: 69, Na ons: 46 WR: 2:15:25, Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 1) Constan na Tomescu Dita ROU 2) Catherine Ndereba KEN 3) Chunxiu Zhou CHN 27) Blake Russell USA Deena Kastor USA Magdalena Lewy Boulet USA
1996 ATLANTA, UNITED STATES
Olympic Marathon Medals won by U.S. women (2) Gold – Joan Benoit (Los Angeles 1984) Bronze – Deena Kastor (Athens 2004)
Saturday, August 1, pointtopoint course
Sunday, July 28
Sunday, August 17, flat, pointtopoint course
2:26:44 2:27:06 2:27:07 2:33:13 DNF (right foot) DNF (knee)
Tony Duffy/Allsport
Time standard = 2:35:00 (A); 2:50:00 (B) Compe tors: 86, Finishers: 65, Na ons: 51 WB: 2:21:06, Ingrid Kris ansen (NOR) 1) Fatuma Roba ETH 2:26:05 2) Valen na Yegorova RUS 2:28:05 3) Yuko Arimori JPN 2:28:39 10) Anne Marie Lauck USA 2:31:30 31) Linda Somers USA 2:36:58 Jenny Spangler USA DNF
Gettyimages com
Compe tors: 69, Finishers: 64, Na ons: 39 WB: 2:21:06, Ingrid Kris ansen (NOR) 1) Rosa Mota POR 2:25:40 2) Lisa Mar n AUS 2:25:53 3) Katrin Dorre GDR 2:26:21 17) Nancy Ditz USA 2:33:42 39) Margaret Groos USA 2:40:59 40) Cathy O’Brien USA 2:41:04
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Unforgettable
Two names stand out
in the history of
Olympic Trials Marathon. Frank Shorter
and
Joan Benoit Samuelson
are the only two Olympic Trials Marathon winners who went on to win an Olympic gold medal.
Gettyimages.com
In 1972, in Eugene, Oregon, Yale graduate Shorter and his friend Kenny Moore tied for first place in the Olympic Trials Marathon in 2:15:57.8, a very fast time in those days. The two set a searing pace from the start, and the eight optimists who tried to stay with them got run into the ground (seven of the eight didn’t finish). Running more judiciously, Jack Batcheler and Jeff Galloway, Shorter’s Florida Track Club teammates, finished third and fourth in 2:20:29.2. – more than 4-1/2 minutes back! In the Munich Olympics, Shorter was almost as dominating, despite a much stronger field. He took the lead at seven miles and simply ran away from the world’s best marathoners to finish in a personal best of 2:12:20, nearly half a mile ahead of silver medalist Karel Lismont of Belgium. Shorter’s Olympic marathon victory, the first by an American in 60 years and the first Olympic marathon to be widely televised, was credited with sparking America’s running boom, which 40 years later is still growing. If Shorter’s 1972 victories were dominating, what Joan Benoit did on May 12, 1984 was amazing. On March 16, her right knee locked up 15 miles into a 20-mile training run, and she literally could not run another step. In the weeks that followed, she tried extra days of rest and injections of cortisone and butazolidin, but nothing worked. She’d start a workout, feel great for three miles, and then suddenly have to stop. It was really too late for surgery, but she had no choice: on April 25, she underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee. The Olympic Trials – the first American women’s Olympic Trials -- took place17 days later, in Olympia, Washington. Benoit, despite knowing that every step might be her last, stayed close to the lead for the first half of the race. Then, incredibly, she took the lead and stepped up the pace. In one of the most courageous performances in track and field history, she pulled away steadily and finished in 2:31:04, a comfortable 170 meters or so ahead of runner-up Julie Brown. Her August 5 Olympic victory was almost anti-climactic. Facing the strongest women’s field ever assembled and ignoring the uncomfortably warm 75-degree temperature, Benoit led almost all the way and finished in 2:24:52, the third fastest in history. As she ran down the home stretch of the L.A. Coliseum, runner-up Grete Waitz was just entering the stadium more than a lap behind.
Tony Duffy/Allsport
Unforgettable, these two – Frank Shorter and Joan Benoit Samuelson.
by James Dunaway
2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon
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