2012 U.S. OlympicTrials–Marathon program

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Welcome to the 2012 U.S. OlympicTrials–Marathon program. You willsee history on Saturday, Jan. 14,2012. Both the men’s and women’sTrials races are being held in Houston, the first me both Olympicevents have been hosted in thesame city. Kudos to the HoustonMarathon Commi ee, their sup

porters and the volunteers who took on this importanttask nearly 4 years ago. Thanks to USA Track & Field, theUnited States Olympic Commi ee and the sponsors ofboth 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 versusMeb Keflezighi and perhaps Galen Rupp, and some surprises will make the men’s race memorable. Desi Davilaand Shalane Flanagan should lead the women’s race,with some tremendous talent there. Don’t forget KaraGoucher, Jen Rhines or Linda Somers Smith, who hascompeted in seven Olympic Trials!

This program is your guide to the day’s excitement. Saveit as a souvenir. Get your favorite athlete’s autograph.You will find, as we have, that our sport’s athletes arenot only great compe tors, but love their sport. Enjoythe day. You are truly witnessing sport history!

Regards,

Larry EderGroup Publisher, Shoo ng Star Media, Inc.President, Running Network, LLCwww.runningnetwork.comwww.runblogrun.com

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, iscopyrighted. Please contact publisher for permission for use in any form.

Course Map

U.S. Olympic Trials 2012 Facts & Figures

Desi Davilaby Ellio Denman/AT&F

Kara Goucherby Jon Gugala/Runblogrun.com

courtesy of Houston 2012

Trials Memoriesby James Dunaway American Track & Field

Publisher’s Comments

4 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon

How will the Golden State do?by Mark WinitzCalifornia Track & Running News

Shalane Flanaganby Jon Gugala/Runblogrun.com

Ryan Hallby Ellio Denman/AT&F


Dear Fans,

It is USATrack & 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 sup-

port 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 dedi-

cated 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,

Mike McNees

USATF Interim CEOStephanie Hightower

USATF President



In 2004, USATF and Team USA athletes initiated an outreach program that was aimed ateducating 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 cen-ters 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 ofUSA Track & Field's most successful initiatives.

For more info, log onto www.usatf.org.

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MEN’S QUALIFIERSIndividuals = 158Qualifying standards achieved = 344“A“ Standard = 158Time standard = 2:19:00 (A); no (B)Also “A“: halfmarathon = 1:05:00; and 10,000m (track) = 28:30.00

WOMEN’S QUALIFIERSIndividuals = 223Qualifying Standards achieved = 411“A“ Standard = 45“B“ Standard = 178Time 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 QUALIFIERSMen = 28.4Women = 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)

MASTERS 40 AND OLDER QUALIFIERS ENTEREDMen = 1Women = 21

STATE SUMMARYThe 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifiers live or train in 41states plus Washington, DC. The Trials male qualifiers can be foundin 33 states plus Washington, DC, and the Trials female qualifiers in40 states. There were nine states without Trials qualifiers: Alabama,Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, SouthCarolina, SouthDakota 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)

FOREIGN BORN QUALIFIERSMen (12)Abdi Abdirahman, Somalia Bolota Asmerom, EritreaFasil Bizuneh, Germany Robert Cheseret, KenyaJoseph Chirlee, Kenya Mbarak Hussein, KenyaMeb Keflezighi, Eritrea Miguel Nuci, MexicoCeledonio Rodriguez, Mexico Simon Sawe, KenyaMike Sayenko, Ukraine Mo Trafeh, Morocco

Women (10)Mary Akor, Nigeria Janet CherobonBawcom, KenyaColleen De Reuck, South Africa Sopagna Eap, ThailandZoila Gomez, Mexico Magdalena Lewy Boulet, PolandAdriana Nelson, Romania Kim Pawelek, VietnamLinda Somers Smith, Germany YiOu Wang, China

FAMILY AFFAIR QUALIFIERSHusband and Wife (3)Adam and Kara GoucherChad Johnson and Melissa JohnsonWhiteJason Lehmkuhle and Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle

Brothers (1)Brothers Josh and Jason Ordway and Josh’s his exwife, BeckiMichael, also qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials.

Twins (3)Drew and Kyle ShackletonKara and Tara StorageEdwardo and Jorge Torres

SOURCE: USA Track & Field, Running USA and MarathonGuide.com

U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS MARATHON - FAST FACTS

Con nued On Page 12

2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Marathon 11


MOST U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALSMARATHON QUALIFIED 4Name Age ResidenceClint Verran 36 Lake Orion, MIJosh Cox 36 Mammoth Lakes, CA

13 OLYMPIANS ALL EVENTSName YearAbdi Abdirahman 2000, 2004, 2008Bolota Asmerom 2000 – ERIDan Browne 2004 – two eventsIan Dobson 2008Anthony Famiglie 2004, 2008Adam Goucher 2000Ryan Hall 2008Meb Keflezighi 2000, 2004Dathan Ritzenhein 2004, 2008Galen Rupp 2008Brian Sell 2008Ma Tegenkamp 2008Jorge Torres 2008

5 OLYMPIANS MARATHONName YearDan Browne 2004Ryan Hall 2008Meb Keflezighi 2004 – silver medalDathan Ritzenhein 2008Brian Sell 2008

4 CURRENT U.S. RECORD HOLDERSName Event TimeFernando Cabada 25 km 1:14:21Ryan Hall Halfmarathon 59:43

30 km 1:28:38Dathan Ritzenhein 20 km 56:48Galen Rupp 5,000m indoors 13:11.44

10,000m 26:48.00Ma Tegenkamp 2 mile 8:07.07 – unofficial

6 USA MARATHON CHAMPIONS 7 TITLESName YearDan Browne 2002Mbarak Hussein 2005, 2006Ryan Hall 2007Fernando Cabada 2008Meb Keflezighi 2009Sergio Reyes 2010

MOST USA TITLESName No. of TitlesMeb Keflezighi 20 (14 road, 3 track, 3 cross country)Dan Browne 17 (14 road, 2 track, 1 cross country)Abdi Abdirahman 13 (9 road, 4 track)Adam Goucher 9 (1 road, 2 track, 2 indoor,

4 cross country)Max King 7 (6 trail, 1 mountain)Michael Wardian 7 (7 ultra road)

31 PAST USA CHAMPIONS 130 COMBINED NATIONAL TITLES

Name No. of TitlesMeb Keflezighi 20Dan Browne 17Abdi Abdirahman 13Adam Goucher 9Max King 7Michael Wardian 7Anthony Famiglie 6Ryan Hall 5Dathan Ritzenhein 4Brian Sell 4Ma Tegenkamp 4Mo Trafeh 4Fernando Cabada 3Galen Rupp 3Jorge Torres 3Andrew Carlson 2James Carney 2Mbarak Hussein 2Bobby Mack 2Ben True 2Fasil Bizuneh 1Robert Cheseret 1Ian Dobson 1Bre Gotcher 1Chad Johnson 1Ed Moran 1Sean Quigley 1Sergio Reyes 1Chris Siemers 1Brent Vaughn 1Antonio Vega 1

SOURCE: USA Track & Field and Running USA


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MOST OLYMPIC MARATHON TRIALSQUALIFIED A RECORD 7Linda Somers Smith, 50, Arroyo Grande, CA

9 OLYMPIANS ALL EVENTSName YearAmy Begley 2008Colleen De Reuck 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004Shalane Flanagan 2004, 2008 – two eventsKara Goucher 2008 – two eventsDeena Kastor 2000, 2004, 2008Magdalena Lewy Boulet 2008Jen Rhines 2000, 2004, 2008Blake Russell 2008Linda Somers Smith 1996

6 OLYMPIANS MARATHONName YearColleen De Reuck 1996, 2000, 2004Deena Kastor 2004, 2008 – bronze medal 2004Magdalena Lewy Boulet 2008Jen Rhines 2004Blake Russell 2008Linda Somers Smith 1996

4 CURRENT U.S. RECORD HOLDERSName Event TimeColleen De Reuck U.S. AllComers 10 mile 51:16

20 km 1:05:11Shalane Flanagan 3,000m indoors 8:33.25

5,000m indoors 14:47.6210,000m 30:22.22

Molly Huddle 5,000m 14:44.76Deena Kastor 5 km 14:54

8 km 24:3612 km 38:2415 km 47:1510 mile 51:3120 km 1:04:07Halfmarathon 1:07:3430 km 1:39:08Marathon 2:19:36

6 USA MARATHON CHAMPIONS 9 TITLES

Name YearLinda Somers 1993, 1994Kim Pawelek 1999Deena Kastor 2001, 2007, 2008Colleen De Reuck 2004Ilsa Paulson 2009Shalane Flanagan 2010

MOST USA TITLESName No. of TitlesDeena Kastor (nee Drossin) 25 (5 track, 12 road, 8 cross country)Shalane Flanagan 14 (4 track, 4 road, 1 indoor,

5 cross country)Colleen De Reuck 10 (8 road, 2 cross country)Molly Huddle 7 (6 road, 1 track)Ka e McGregor 7 (6 road, 1 track)

27 PAST USA CHAMPIONS 108 COMBINED NATIONAL TITLES

Name No. of TitlesDeena Kastor (nee Drossin) 25Shalane Flanagan 14Colleen De Reuck 10Molly Huddle 7Ka e McGregor 7Amy Begley 6Jen Rhines 5Janet CherobonBawcom 3Kara Goucher 3Blake Russell 3Kami Semick 3Meghan Arbogast 2Devon CrosbyHelms 2Lauren Fleshman 2Magdalena Lewy Boulet 2Chris Lundy 2Linda Somers Smith 2Kasie Enman 1Esther Erb 1Lisa Koll 1Megan LundLizo e 1Renee Me vier Baillie 1Ilsa Paulson 1Kim Pawelek 1Emily Po er 1Molly Pritz 1Jodie Robertson 1

SOURCE: USA Track & Field and Running USA



Feeling great, feeling strong, feeling buoyant, the Californiareared, Arizonaschooled, Michigantrained, 5foot2, 28yearold star of the HansonsBrooks Distance Project has run off to Florida for her final training sessionsen 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 beready. With the race s ll a monthplus away (at this wri ng), she’ll beeven readier. As the me clock to the star ng gun—to be fired at exactly8:15 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 mustmaster. It’s not what anyone has ever done previously. Press clippingshave no value. Stats lists are irrelevant. It’s veryvery simple and straightforward. 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. Withthe men going off at 8 a.m. and the women a quarterhour later—thefirst me the dual trials will be held same place, same day—the mediamasses 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 Londonin 1908, Frank Shorter at Munich in 1972, and Joan Benoit (now Samuelson) 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 currentworldleading 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 ofRussia (2:18:20 this year), Mary Jepkosgei (2:19:19) and Florence JebetKiplagat (2:19:44) of Kenya, Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia (2:21:59) and aflock of others wai ng in the wings, there is no clearcut favorite for the26.2mile race through London.

Such is the depth in Kenya and Ethiopia that many from those naons occupying high spots on the year lists will not be on the premises.

“The Big One“ will start at The Mall, directly fron ng BuckinghamPalace in London at precisely 11 a.m. on the 5th of August 2012.

Only some extraordinary occurrence in Houston figures to keepDavila away from that scenerio as one of the three proud USA delegates.

Even with such redoubtables as Shalane Flanagan, Kara Goucher,Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Amy Has ngs, Stephanie Rothstein, Clara Grandtand Deena Kastor arrayed against her, expert opinion is that Davila willbe a top candidate to win the run through Houston.

“I’m 100% right now,” Desiree Davila tells you.

Desiree DavilaHouston 2012 by Ellio Denman, courtesy of American Track & Field

HOUSTON 2012 ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

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Back in 2008, the virtually unknown Davila—who’d prepped at California’s Hilltop High School and had a lessthancommanding career atArizona State University—a racted her first real a en on from the distance running gurus when she got as close as 4th place at one stretch ofthe Olympic Marathon Trial, before “panicking,“ as she put it, and slidingback to 13th place in 2:37:50.

She’s not about to repeat the mistakes that cost her dearly 4 yearsago. She’s got the experience now that assures she won’t let the “li lethings“ that built into major problems get to her. She’s a truly ba letoughened young vet of the distance game, ready to duke it out with anyrival, foreign or domes c.

Oh, some cynics may allege that her startling 2nd place in the 2011Boston 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 virtuallyperfect and the pacing situa on likewise. For another, they say, that2:22:38 came “out of the blue“ and might be difficult to repeat. For athird, the classic HopkintontoBoston route has now been ruled ineligiblefor 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 Davilacan really, truly run with the best.

She has the speed, the talent and now—a er years of buildup theconfidence needed to run at the highest level. Marathon aside, shesnared a 31:37 fourth place in the 10,000 meters at the USA Na onals inEugene 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 preparaons, 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 complete long shots (among them the “wild cards“ who’ve posted qualifying

mes at the half marathon or 10K distances, rather than the full 26.2miler) will be among them.

And that’s where Davila, long since graduated from the “rookie“ category, armed with the savvy of a young veteran, figures to start makingher big move.

By 23–24 miles, it may be down to a precious few.

With everything then on the line, Desiree Davila promises that shewon’t let that precious moment escape her.

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But will the Houston route (a 2.2mile loop star ng at the George R. BrownConven 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) willhead to Texas as defending Marathon Trial champion and rocksolid choiceto 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 torun 10th at the Beijing Olympics.

And he's lowered his PR since then from 2:06:17 (London, 2008) to2:04:58 (albeit on the nowasterisked HopkintontoBoston route, April 18.)

Statswise, that should make him a leadpipe cinch to romp home a winner in Houston. The Olympic Trials Marathon qualifying window has been opensince 2009 and just one other man, Meb Keflezighi (with 2:09:15, 2:09:21 and2:09:26 clockings), has broken 2:10. The window closed on Dec. 11.

But Hall is coun ng no chickens and taking the anythingcanhappenonagivenday approach. He knows that Meb (2009 ING NYC champion and2004 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 theform 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 OlympicMarathon course in London so if I make the team I'll pre y much know whatto 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 goingon behind us (or ahead).

"Oh, it's got a few ups and downs, but not too many. Basically, it'spre y much ideal.

"Man, I really think I can run quick on it."

Up to 1964, the Olympic Marathon team was generally chosen on thecombined results of mul ple Trials races. But in 1968, the format switchedto 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. Closestto the feat was Frank Shorter who (en route to his Munich Olympic Goldmedal performance) shared the 1972 Trials crown with Kenny Moore andthen won it on his own in 1976.

The rollcall of winners since then: Tony Sandoval 1980; Peter Pfitzinger1984; Mark Conover 1988; Steve Spence 1992; Bob Kempainen 1996; RodDeHaven 2000; Alan Culpepper 2004 .. and Hall in 2008.

New York–Ryan Hall has seen the course for the2012 Olympic Trials Marathon course and loves it.

Ryan HallHouston 2012, by Ellio Denman, courtesy of American Track & Field


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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 Guadalajara, Mexico, where he saw wife Sara run off with the gold medal in the women's 3000metersteeplechase final.

"Oh, Sara was just great at the Pan Ams," he said. "She ran a powerful race and beat aquality 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 corporate 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, butcouldn'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 onOct. 9) and considers it the perfect prep for Houston. Most other leading Americans stayedaway.)

"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, California. Flagstaff's perfect for al tude prepara on; Redding for tempo work. Highvolume cycleswill rotate sessions of highspeed work.

While passing up the 2011 ING NYC Marathon, he s ll "caught the fever" of the Big Appleclassic. Apart from the Olympic Trials race in 2007 (held on a loop course in Central Park), he'drun 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. "Forone thing, I went out too fast. The first 5 miles felt like I was in a 5mile race. By 18 miles, I waspre y much struggling.

"But that performance, and knowing I can do a lot be er, only makes me hunger to goback some me."

A perfect me to return to NYC would seem to be November 2012–hopefully, a er amajor Trials performance, an upwiththeleaders finish in the London Olympic Games, and areturn 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 atthe Grand Canyon in Arizona. The path starts on the South Rim, descends the South KaibabTrail, crosses the Colorado River, then rises up the North Rim on the North Kaibab Trail. Andthen it's back the same way.

The men's record of 6:56:59 was set by Dave Mackey in 2007.

With all his training work at Flagstaff, about an hourplus from Grand Canyon, he's gainednew 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.

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'sgiven me some great opportuni es. And I want to enjoy every one of them."

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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 acommon denominator: Shalane Flanagan, 30, of Portland, Ore. Why have so many predicted herpodium 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. womenmarathoners, sprung from the loins of Average Joes, Flanagan’s mother, Cheryl Treworgy (neeBridges) 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 CountryChampionships. Flanagan has been weaned on running, and her high school

state records and NCAA championships were as predictable as a lionesscub devouring her first wildebeest.

Then there’s Flanagan’s ability to produce staggering results her first me at bat. Case in point: Flanagan debuted at

the 10,000m in 2008 and set the American Record. She rana half marathon for the first me at the 2011 USA HalfMarathon Championships, winning and se ng a courserecord (1:09:45). Most per nent, in her marathon debutat the New York City marathon in 2010, she kept a levelhead in one of the more bizarrely evolving, slowstar ngWorld Marathon Majors races ever, and took the runnerup spot in 2:28:40, spli ng a pair of women (EdnaKiplagat and Mary Keitany) that would run 2:20 and2:19, respec vely, the following spring.

While Flanagan hasn’t raced a marathon in 2011, shehas proven she as just as sharp in the shorter distances as

she was at her peak, which foreshadows trouble for her fellow U.S. marathoners. She was the bronze medalist at the

2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, and in latespring, 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 is14:44.76) 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 PRof 1:08:36 in Philadelphia. If this is business as usual, American women mightas well relegate themselves to second and third.

It’s for these reasons that Flanagan enters the 2012 Olympic Team Trials asthe favorite. In a sense, she has become her own worst enemy: Flanagan is thean climax, the rhetorical ques on, the foregone conclusion. She is the HarlemGlobetro ers playing your local community college team. But coming from thestock that she has, this is her des ny. The princess stands poised to claim hercrown in Houston.

by Jon Gugala

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LLooks to Fulfil Her Destinyas Running Royalty

Shalane FlanaganHOUSTON2012-program_HOUSTON-program 1/11/12 9:28 AM

Kara Goucher EyesHer Competition atthe 2012 OlympicTeam Trialsby Jon Gugala

Kara Goucher is quick to dismiss her performance at the 2011 BostonMarathon. Her 2:24:26 PR—the secondfastest me of all U.S.Olympic Trials Marathon qualifiers, and ed for 7th on the all melist—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 suchreluctance that it s cks sideways in your throat. So you turn it overin your head. You pry into it. You walk around it, inspec ng it fromdifferent angles. And then, like one of those Magic Eye puzzlesfrom the early 90s that, by moving back and forth, makes a sailboat 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 ofBoston. “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 longing was the win.

For Goucher, as you flip through her PRs, from the track tothe road, you’ll soon no ce that they’ve never come from metrial–style races.

Her 5000m PR? Set in 2007, Goucher was chasing eventual 20115000m/10,000m world champ Vivian Cheruiyot for 3rd in a GoldenLeague meet in Berlin. Her 10,000m best? It was set in the final ofthe 2008 Olympics.

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HOUSTON2012-program_HOUSTON-program 1/11/12 9:29 AM

Goucher’s crowning achievement from her early career could be herreckless move from the lead pack of the 2007 Great North Run HalfMarathon, launching from world record–holder in the marathon PaulaRadcliffe, in what Goucher claims was an act of such novice audacity thatshe cringes when she thinks back on it. “Yeah, honestly, the reason I ranso fast is I found myself ahead of her, and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m suchan idiot. How did I put myself in this posi on? I need to make this happenor 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 of1:07:34, as the course’s netdownhill profile was deemed ineligible forrecord 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 toomuch, too fast. “I wasn’t ready, really, to run a marathon,“ she says. “Ipushed 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 theBoston marathon. But Colt was only the first of many changes over thelast year and a half.

A er Boston, Goucher took her disappointment and training volumeand funneled it onto the track. She was the runnerup to future trainingpartner and American recordholder Shalane Flanagan at the USATFChampionships in the 10,000m, eager for another World Championships contest, the site of her breakout performance in 2007where she was the surprise bronze medalist in the distance.

The irony was that in 2007, Goucher was coming off an injury, and in 2011, as she prepared to compete in Daegu, SouthKorea, 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 asa stress reac on in her femoral neck. Therapy and rest did li le to curtailit, and the result was a disappoin ng 13thplace performance on the worldstage. It was followed by 5 weeks completely off running—a lessthanideal 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 leavingcoach Alberto Salazar, whom she and Adam had been with since 2004, tomake a parallel move to the Portlandbased Jerry Schumacher group,which was home to, among others Flanagan and NCAA 10,000m recordholder Lisa Uhl, two of the brightest stars in U.S. distance running.

“I wanted to be held more accountable,” Goucher says. “Alberto wastaking on some big me athletes and has to travel a lot more than he usedto, 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 withthe 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 allnight. They’re hi ng the pace, and I’m going to get le behind if I don’thave the pace.”

For Goucher, who has depended so heavily on compe on to s mulate her progression, her new training partners have put her in her naturalenvironment in which to excel.

Goucher’s other reason to switch was for the training group itself.

For much of her postbaby training with Salazar, husband Adam was hersole training partner, without whom she claims her Boston race wouldn’thave 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, Adamwas a four me NCAA champion (cross country, outdoor 5000m, andtwice indoor 3000m), and later an Olympic trials champion in the5000m (2000).

But Adam was also frequently plagued by injuries. A er suffering yetanother in the fall of 2011, which interrupted his plans of a marathondebut at the 2012 Olympic Team Trials, he announced his re rement. Itwas a huge decision, one that Kara empathizes with.

Besides her new training partners, Goucher has also had to acclimateto a new training philosophy. Schumacher’s training differs in many waysfrom Salazar’s. She’s running higher milage and longer workouts: “Mindnumbingly long. They go on for hours, and I want to kill myself,“ she saysbut when you’re done, you’re done, she says. There are no more underwater treadmills or body weight–displacing running aids. There are nomore gimmicks. “I thought I was working as hard as anyone else, and I’velearned 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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KARA GOUCHERare] just trying to get as fit as possible, to run as fast as comfortable, toknow that we can run a certain pace, and then we have to see what otherpeople do,“ Goucher says.

“I think that if I can get myself in 2:25, 2:26 shape, that will be goodenough. If I run 2:25 and it isn’t good enough, hat’s off. That’s an amazingteam,“ she adds.

Goucher makes magic happen when she’s fit, and though she says shehas “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

the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trails looming, with what could arguably bethe deepest women’s field ever assembled, those who write her off, comparing her to the injuryfree Shalanes and Davilas and Has ngs and LewyBoulets, are overlooking history.

Goucher is not good because she’s fast—a er all, the fastestmarathoner in the world, Paula Radcliffe, has never won a medal in theOlympics. Kara Goucher is good because she’s compe ve. In fact, hercompe veness has outshined her mes and, most importantly, has directly fueled them. It’s something will ensure that her impact will be feltat the finish line on Jan. 14.

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Californians at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon

Or maybe, the real ques on is: Can they possibly deliver even morethis me? In 2008 it was easy for me to predict that Golden Statewomen had a decent chance of sweeping the top three spots at thewomen's Marathon Trials in Boston. They did, as Deena Kastor(Mammoth Lakes), Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Oakland) and Blake Russell (Pacific Grove) led the way to Beijing. A few months before, atthe men's Trials race in New York City, Ryan Hall (Redding), one ofthe prerace favorites, ascended the winner's podium.

Will California, once again, showcase its deep distance talent atthe 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Houston on Jan. 14,where separate trials races will determine the three men and threewomen who will represent the U.S. at the Olympics in London? That'san easy one to answer. At our editorial deadline a month before theTrials, 383 athletes (158 men, 225 women) had met the qualifyingstandards for entry into the event. Among the qualifiers, 65 athleteshail from California. That's 17% of all qualifiers. No other state comesclose to these numbers (although Colorado, with a popula on of 5million compared to California's 37 million, posts 45 qualifiers).

In quality, too, California has no peers. Nine Californians bringthe benefits of Olympic experience to the 2012 Olympic TrialsMarathon: Kastor, Lewy Boulet, Russell, Hall, Meb Keflezighi (Mammoth Lakes), Bolota Asmerom (San Leandro), Dan Browne ( ChulaVista/Mammoth Lakes), Jen Rhines (Mammoth Lakes), and LindaSomers Smith (Arroyo Grande).

Although interna onal experience at the top levels of our sportcertainly provides an edge, it doesn't necessarily predict success ata onechance trials event at the o enunpredictable marathon distance. With young American athletes eager and capable of takingthe reins, perhaps in unprecedented numbers, the most compe vemarathon trials in U.S. history is likely in store.

"Having run the Olympic Trials Marathon in 2004 and 2008 willhopefully help with the nerves for Houston," said Russell, who, likeKastor and Lewy Boulet, juggles motherhood around her demandingtraining schedule. "Going into the 2008 trials, I accurately predictedthe [women's] marathon team before the gun went off. But this trialswill be much different with returning veterans and many notablenewbies to the distance. It will be an exci ng race, to say the least."

Conven onal wisdom says that the top three slots at themarathon 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, youngtalent comes to the fore. With the qualifying window about to closeas of this wri ng, the top three men's qualifying mes at the fullmarathon distance were all set by marathon veterans: Hall's 2:04:58set at the 2011 Boston Marathon Keflezighi's 2:09:13 at the 2011New York City Marathon, and Dathan Ritzenhein's (Oregon) 2:10:00from the 2009 London Marathon.

Yet none of the top qualifiers are taking their creden als forgranted. Not even Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic Marathon Silver medalist. Not even Hall, who tamed what had been thought of as a slow anddifficult 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 knowwho your biggest rival might be," said Hall. “Some people out therehaven't even run a marathon before." (See the explana on belowregarding qualifying standards for more on this topic.)

To be sure, a bevy of young, rela vely new talent is also amongthe top qualifiers. For example, former Aptos prep Bre Gotcher, age

27 (now an Arizona resident), recorded a 2:10:36 debut marathonat Houston in 2010. Gotcher's McMillan Elite teammate, Nick Arciniaga, 28, lowered his PR to 2:11:30 at last January's HoustonMarathon, where he placed 2nd. Arciniaga is a Fountain Valley HighSchool and Cal State Fullerton grad.

How about 26yearold Mo Trafeh (Duarte, CA)? Although an"infant" at the marathon distance, Trafeh outkicked Hall and wonthe 2011 USA Half Marathon Champs in Houston on a course designed to emulate the fourloop course athletes will tackle at theOlympic Trials and also in London at the Olympic Games. Plus,Trafeh's 1:00:39 half marathon personal best (2010 NYC HalfMarathon) converts to an impressive 2:07:01 26.2miler.

Going into the women's trials race, Lewy Boulet, 38, has thethirdfastest qualifying me (2:26:22, 2010 London Marathon). Kastor, also 38, will be a sen mental favorite. A er all, the three meOlympian is a 2004 Olympic marathon Bronze medalist and the U.S.marathon record holder (2:19:36). Russell, 36, considered re rementa er the birth of her son, Quin, in 2009 when she struggled withsleepless nights tending to the infant. But Bob Sevene, the legendarycoach who has coached Russell for 12 years, has guided her backinto form.

Like the favored men, these women and others will faceyounger 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 thirdfastest debut at the distance by an American woman.

So, can Californians come through in unprecedented fashion inHouston and top their four U.S. Olympic marathon team spots thatthey 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 differentsets of qualifying criteria for the Olympic Trials Marathon. Men haveone set of standards only, considered "A" standards. Men who haveachieved these standards (marathon: 2:19:00 and under; halfmarathon: 1:05:00 and under; 10,000m: 28:30 and under) get theirexpenses 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 expensesare not paid. These differences account for the fact that morewomen qualified for the trials than men.

The Men's LDR Commi ee set its "A" standardonly policy before the Olympic Trials Marathon based on MLDR chair Glenn La

mer's asser on that the bar needed to be set higher to encourageexcellence, and two me Olympian Dan Browne's view that menshouldn't be in the trials if they're unable to run faster than DeenaKastor's 2:19:36 U.S. women's record. The Women's LDR Commi eehas chosen to retain a "B" qualifying standard to allow more womento par cipate in the trials, even if they have li le or no chance ofmaking the podium.

• The San Franciscobased Impala Racing Team boasts 13 womenwho have qualified for the Olympic Trials Marathon, perhaps themost female qualifiers of any running club in the country.

Will Californians Deliver Again at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon?by Mark Winitz, courtesy of California Track & Running News Best Marks

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• Linda Somers Smith, 50, of Arroyo Grande, is the oldest women'squalifier for the 2012 Olympic Trials. The 1996 marathon Olympianqualified for her seventh consecu ve Olympic Trials Marathon at the2010 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 thesame day, at the same site. On Saturday Jan. 14, the men start at 8a.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 bothmen's and women's Olympic Trials are televised on the same day.

THOUGHTS FROM CALIFORNIA'S OLYMPIC VETS

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 approaching the trials the same way that I approach all my marathons. I'm con nuing to go a er a breakthrough 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."

Strategy: "I don't really like to have a strategy. My strategy is to be as fit as possible. The more fit youare, the more possibili es you have, and the more ways you can run. My idea is to be ready for anyonewho makes any type of move and be able to respond. And then, if I'm in a posi on to make a move myself, 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."

Confidence: "Having run a lot of marathons, I know that I can run a lot of different ways and be successful. And, I think having been to the Trials before will help me get back [to the Trials podium]."

PR: 2:09:13 (2011)Ambi on: "I'll have something to prove in Houston. My goal is top three."

Philosophy: "Like the marathon, life can some mes be difficult, challenging and present obstacles; however, if you believe in your dreams and never, ever give up, things will turn out for the best."

Experience: "It's always an honor to try your best and represent your country. Experience should helpme be in the mix. It will come down to the last 10K to be a contender and make the team. I hope to beone of them."

Editor's Note: The 2004 Olympic marathon Silver medalist fractured his pelvis during the 2008 OlympicMarathon Trials and was le literally crawling. He finished in 8th place. His close friend and fellowmarathoner, Ryan Shay, suffered a cardiac arrest at the Trials and died that same day.

PR: 2:19:36 (2006)Quality and Depth of Compe on: "My an cipa on is growing as the Trials near. The Houston organizersare doing an amazing job at catering to athletes and fans. This will be the toughest Trials race in ourmarathon history as the field is super talented. Right now I'm at the height of my training and I know Iwill have prepared the best I can come January. I just hope my best is good enough to make my fourthOlympic team. It's safe to say that between the men's and women's marathon talent in our country, wewill earn more than one medal in this event in London."

Ryan Hall

Meb Keflezighi

Deena Kastor

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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 theU.S. has ever seen. My only goal is to finish in the top three, regardless of me, but in order for that tohappen, I'll most likely have to be in PR shape. So I'm hoping to be in the best shape of my life."

Prepara on: "So far training has been going fine. I've been healthy for the most part. I've only run tworaces, which is less than I normally run in a marathon buildup. The 5K in New York went well, the halfmarathon was not as fast as I'd hoped, but any me you get to win a race it's a good day."

PR: 2:29:10 (2005)Toddlers and Training: "A er Beijing, it seemed like an eternity before I had to worry about the nextOlympic Trials, and now here they are... . I can't say everything since the 2008 Trials has gone accordingto plan, but then when do things always go perfect? Life has been a li le bit different since Beijing witha very sweet and ac ve 21⁄2yearold boy to chase. Though I vaguely remember the days when I used tocome in from a run and relax, I'm now rushing back to take Quin to the park or play along the ocean. Although I'm busier and more red, I wouldn't change a thing."

Training Approach: "I'm happy with how my training has been going the last few months. I've logged somegood miles and put in some solid marathon workouts. My coach, Bob Sevene, always emphasizes that it'sthe whole package, not just a few workouts or long runs. Ul mately, consistency is the key. I've learned totake marathon training one week at a me, and not to panic when you don't feel great all the me."

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 ngrace at the ING New York City Marathon I decided to regroup and give it a go. I'm back up to speed nowand feel like I have a personal best effort in me. I view myself as a dark horse in the race for the podiumposi ons. I have the experience and capability, but I've been inconsistent at the marathon distance. Itwill take a phenomenal effort from all three women who make this Olympic Marathon Team. I'm lookingforward to being part of it."

Magdalena Lewy Boulet

Blake Russell

Jen Rhines

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 upwith an incredible team. Unlike prior years, the dark horses are actually proven runners rather than unknown ones. As for my expecta ons, I believe I will run well but likely won't be in the top 20, even on mybest day. So, I just plan to run a conserva ve race, with hopes of breaking 2:40. I'm in shape to do that ora bit faster."

Linda Somers Smith

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Since 1968, the U.S. Olympic marathon team has been selected at theTrials race. The top three earned coveted spots on the team (in recentOlympics, provided Olympic “A” standards were met). Before 1968,the U.S. Olympic marathoners were selected based on a series ofmarathon races. The history of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, albeitshort, is rich and storied. 1972 Olympic gold medalist and 1976Olympic silver medalist in the marathon, Frank Shorter is the only manto 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 reclaimed the lead to win. At the 1988 Trials race, Mark Conover pulleda major upset with a stunning victory, while in 1996, Bob Kempainenwon the race and a berth on his second Olympic team despite throwing up several mes in the la er stages of the race. At the 2000 Trialsrace, the winner, Rod deHaven, only had the Olympic Marathon “B”

me standard (2:20 or faster) and thus, because the Trials championwas guaranteed an Olympic berth, he was the only U.S. male representa ve for the Olympic Marathon (the first me that the U.S. didnot field a full marathon team). At the 2008 OMT held in 2007 in NewYork City’s Central Park, Ryan Hall produced a sublime 2:09:02against one of the best U.S. fields in the marathon.

1968: ALAMOSA, COLORADOSunday, August 18

129 Entrants (no qualifying me), 113 Starters, 63 Finishers, at al tude5.2 mile loop 5 mes plus 385 yards1) 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, OREGONSunday, July 9

Time standard = 2:30:00100 Starters, 66 Finishers 1) Kenny Moore (OR) 2:15:58# ( e), Trials record 1) Frank Shorter (CO) 2:15:58# 3) Jack Bacheler (FL) 2:20:30 4) Jeff Galloway (FL) 2:20:30 5) Greg Brock (CA) 2:22:30

#Trials record (previous record, 2:30:48, George Young, Alamosa 1968)

1976: EUGENE, OREGONSaturday, May 22

Time standard = 2:23:0087 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

#Trials record (previous record, 2:15:58, Frank Shorter and KennyMoore, Eugene 1972)

1980: BUFFALO, NEW YORKSaturday, May 24

Time standard = 2:21:54269 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 YORK60th USA Men’s Championship – 5th U.S. Men’s OlympicMarathon TrialsSaturday, May 26

Time standard = 2:19:04201 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 JERSEYSunday, April 24

Time standard = 2:20:00132 Qualifiers, 115 Starters, 77 FinishersPrize 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, OHIOSaturday, April 11Time standard = 2:20:00108 Qualifiers, 102 Starters, 55 FinishersPrize money = $214,000

1) Steve Spence (PA) 2:12:43 $58,000* 2) Ed Eyestone (UT) 2:12:51 $48,000* 3) Bob Kempainen (MN) 2:12:54 $38,000* 4) Keith Brantly (FL) 2:14:16 $15,000 5) Bill Reifsnyder (NM) 2:15:45 $10,000

*Includes $2000 me bonus ($1000 for sub2:14 and $1000 for sub2:13) and $16,000 Olympic training s pend

U.S. MEN’S OLYMPIC TRIALS MARATHON HISTORY (1968-2008)



1996: CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINASaturday, February 17

Time standard = 2:20:00 (A); 2:22:00 (B)135 Qualifiers, 116 Starters, 90 FinishersPrize 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, PENNSYLVANIASunday, May 7

Time standard = 2:20:00 (A); 2:22:00 (B)114 Qualifiers, 99 Starters, 78 FinishersPrize 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, ALABAMASaturday, February 7

Time standard = 2:20:00 (A); 2:22:00 (B)

104 Qualifiers, 85 Starters, 70 FinishersMul loop coursePrize 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, NYSaturday, November 3, 2007

Time standard = 2:20:00 (A); 2:22:00 (B)Also: “B” for 5000m (track) = 13:40.00 & 10,000m (track) = 28:45.00179 Qualifiers, 130 Starters, 104 Finishers5loop course in Central ParkPrize 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 3qualifiersSOURCE: 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 onedayfinal. The first U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials was held on May12, 1984 and hosted by Olympia, Washington.

The past seven Olympic Trials have produced exci ng races andpoignant stories from Joan Benoit’s amazing victory in Olympia to thetriumphant return of Margaret Groos in Pi sburgh to Janis Klecker’srecovery from a fall in Houston to the shockers in Columbia with JennySpangler (1996) and Chris Clark (2000) to Colleen de Reuck’s upset ofDeena 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, WASHINGTONSaturday, May 12

Time standard = 2:51:16267 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, PENNSYLVANIASunday, May 1

Time standard = 2:50:00246 Qualifiers, 204 Starters, 159 FinishersPrize 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 Ruegger (CAN), 1987)

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1992: HOUSTON, TEXASSunday, January 26

Time standard = 2:45:00118 Qualifiers, 89 Starters, 65 FinishersPrize 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

1996: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINASaturday, 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 CAROLINASaturday, February 26

Time standard = 2:42:00 (A); 2:50:00 (B)210 Qualifiers, 170 Starters, 141 FinishersPrize 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 whereClark finished 19th in a personal record (2:31:35).

2004: ST. LOUIS, MISSOURISaturday, April 3

Time standard = 2:39:59 (A); 2:48:00 (B)Mul loop course in Forest Park151 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

#Trials record (previous record, 2:29:50, Margaret Groos, Pi sburgh1988) and course and state records (previous record, 2:35:37, SaraWells, 2003)*Includes $10,000 bonus for Olympic Marathon par cipa on

2008: BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTSSunday, April 20Time standard = 2:39:00 (A); 2:47:00 (B)Also: “B” for 10,000m (track) = 33:00.00Mul loop course in downtown Boston181 Qualifiers, 146 starters, 124 FinishersPrize 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 onSOURCE: USA Track & Field and Running USA

MEN’S OLYMPIC MARATHON MEDALISTS ANDU.S. RESULTS1968 MEXICO CITY, MEXICOSunday, October 20, pointtopoint course

Compe tors: 75, Finishers: 57, Na ons: 41WB: 2:09:37, Derek Clayton (AUS)1) Mamo Wolde ETH 2:20:272) Kenji Kimihara JPN 2:23:313) Michael Ryan NZL 2:23:4514) Kenny Moore USA 2:29:5016) George Young USA 2:31:1522) Ron Daws USA 2:33:53

1972 MUNICH, GERMANYSunday, September 10

Compe tors: 74, Finishers: 62, Na ons: 39WB: 2:08:34, Derek Clayton (AUS)

1) Frank Shorter USA 2:12:202) Karel Lismont BEL 2:14:323) Mamo Wolde ETH 2:15:094) Kenny Moore USA 2:15:409) Jack Bacheler USA 2:17:39

1976 MONTREAL, CANADASaturday, July 31

Compe tors: 67, Finisher: 60, Na ons: 36WB: 2:08:34, Derek Clayton (AUS)1) Waldemar Cierpinski GDR 2:09:55, Olympic Record2) Frank Shorter USA 2:10:463) Karel Lismont BEL 2:11:134) Don Kardong USA 2:11:1640) Bill Rodgers USA 2:25:15

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1980 MOSCOW, SOVIET UNIONFriday, August 1

Compe tors: 74, Finishers: 53, Na ons: 40WB: 2:08:34, Derek Clayton (AUS)1) Waldemar Cierpinski GDR 2:11:032) Gerald Nijboer HOL 2:11:203) Satymkul Dzhumanazarov URS 2:11:35

U.S. boyco , marathon team members were: Tony Sandoval, Benji Durden and Kyle Heffner.

1984 LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATESSunday, August 12, pointtopoint course

Compe tors: 107, Finishers: 78, Na ons: 59WB: 2:08:18, Rob De Castella (AUS)1) Carlos Lopes POR 2:09:21, Olympic Record2) John Treacy IRL 2:09:563) Charles Spedding GBR 2:09:5811) Pete Pfitzinger USA 2:13:5315) Alberto Salazar USA 2:14:19John Tu le DNF

1988 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREASunday, October 2

Compe tors: 118, Finishers: 98, Na ons: 66WB: 2:06:50, Belayneh Densimo (ETH)1) Gelindo Bordin ITA 2:10:322) Douglas Wakiihuri KEN 2:10:473) Ahmed Salah DJI 2:10:5914) Pete Pfitzinger USA 2:14:4429) Ed Eyestone USA 2:19:09 Mark Conover USA DNF51) Gary Fanelli USA* 2:25:35*Represented American Samoa (U.S. territory).

1992 BARCELONA, SPAINSunday, August 9, pointtopoint course

Time standard = 2:14:00Compe tors: 110, Finishers: 87, Na ons: 72WB: 2:06:50, Belayneh Densimo (ETH)1) Hwang YoungJo KOR 2:13:232) Koichi Morishita JPN 2:13:453) Stephan Freigang GER 2:14:0012) Steve Spence USA 2:15:2113) Ed Eyestone USA 2:15:2317) Bob Kempainen USA 2:15:53

1996 ATLANTA, UNITED STATESSunday, August 4

Time standard = 2:16:00 (A); 2:25:00 (B)Compe tors: 124, Finishers: 111, Na ons: 79WB: 2:06:50, Belayneh Densimo (ETH)1) Josiah Thugwane RSA 2:12:362) Lee BongJu KOR 2:12:393) Eric Wainaina KEN 2:12:4428) Keith Brantly USA 2:18:1731) Bob Kempainen USA 2:18:3841) Mark Coogan USA 2:20:27

2000 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIASunday, October 1, pointtopoint course

Time standard = 2:14:00 (A); 2:20:00 (B)Compe tors: 100, Finishers:81, Na ons: 66WB: 2:05:42, Khalid Khannouchi (USA)1) Gezahenge Abera ETH 2:10:112) Eric Wainaina KEN 2:10:313) Tesfaye Tola ETH 2:11:1069) Rod DeHaven USA 2:30:46

2004 ATHENS, GREECESunday, August 29, hilly, pointtopoint course

Time standard = 2:15:00 (A); 2:18:00 (B)Marathon to AthensCompe tors: 101, Finishers: 81, Na ons: 60WR: 2:04:55, Paul Tergat (KEN)1) Stefano Baldini ITA 2:10:552) Meb Keflezighi USA 2:11:293) Vanderlei de Lima BRA 2:12:1112) Alan Culpepper USA 2:15:2665) Dan Browne USA 2:27:17

2008 BEIJING, CHINASunday, August 24, flat, pointtopoint course

Time standard = 2:15:00 (A); 2:18:00 (B)Compe tors: 98, Finishers: 76, Na ons: 57WR: 2:04:26, Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)1) Sammy Wanjiru KEN 2:06:32, Olympic Record2) Jaouad Gharib MAR 2:07:163) Tsegay Kebede ETH 2:10:009) Dathan Ritzenhein USA 2:11:5910) Ryan Hall USA 2:12:3322) 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 (London1908), Thomas Hicks (St. Louis 1904)Silver (2) – Meb Keflezighi (Athens 2004), Frank Shorter (Montreal1976)Bronze (5) – Clarence DeMar (Paris 1924), Gaston Strobino (Stockholm 1912), Joseph Forshaw (London 1908), William Frank (Athens1906*), Arthur Newton (St. Louis 1904)

*Athens 1906, Interim Olympics



WOMEN’S OLYMPIC MARATHON MEDALISTSAND U.S. RESULTS1984 LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATESSunday, August 5, pointtopoint course

Compe tors: 50, Finishers: 44, Na ons: 28WB: 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 2:26:5736) Julie Brown USA 2:47:33 Julie Isphording USA DNF

1988 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREAFriday, September 23

Compe tors: 69, Finishers: 64, Na ons: 39WB: 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 2:26:2117) Nancy Ditz USA 2:33:4239) Margaret Groos USA 2:40:5940) Cathy O’Brien USA 2:41:04

1992 BARCELONA, SPAINSaturday, August 1, pointtopoint course

Time standard = 2:35:00Compe tors: 47, Finishers: 37, Na ons: 31WB: 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 2:33:5910) Cathy O’Brien USA 2:39:4212) Francie Larrieu Smith USA 2:41:0921) Janis Klecker USA 2:47:17

1996 ATLANTA, UNITED STATESSunday, July 28

Time standard = 2:35:00 (A); 2:50:00 (B)Compe tors: 86, Finishers: 65, Na ons: 51WB: 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 2:28:3910) Anne Marie Lauck USA 2:31:3031) Linda Somers USA 2:36:58 Jenny Spangler USA DNF

2000 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIASunday, September 24, pointtopoint course

Time standard = 2:33:00 (A); 2:45:00 (B)Compe tors: 54, Finishers: 45, Na ons: 36WB: 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 2:24:4519) Chris Clark USA 2:31:35

2004 ATHENS, GREECESunday, August 22, hilly, pointtopoint course

Time standard = 2:37:00 (A); 2:42:00 (B)Marathon to AthensCompe tors: 82, Finishers: 66, Na ons: 47WR: 2:15:25, Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 1) Mizuki Noguchi JPN 2:26:20 2) Catherine Ndereba KEN 2:26:32 3) Deena Kastor USA 2:27:2034) Jen Rhines USA 2:43:5239) Colleen De Reuck USA 2:46:30

2008 BEIJING, CHINASunday, August 17, flat, pointtopoint course

Time standard = 2:37:00 (A); 2:42:00 (B)Compe tors: 82, Finishers: 69, Na ons: 46WR: 2:15:25, Paula Radcliffe (GBR)1) Constan na Tomescu Dita ROU 2:26:442) Catherine Ndereba KEN 2:27:063) Chunxiu Zhou CHN 2:27:0727) Blake Russell USA 2:33:13Deena Kastor USA DNF (right foot)Magdalena Lewy Boulet USA DNF (knee)

Olympic Marathon Medals won by U.S. women (2)Gold – Joan Benoit (Los Angeles 1984)Bronze – Deena Kastor (Athens 2004)


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Unforgettable

Two names stand out in the history of

Olympic Trials Marathon.

and

are the only two Olympic Trials Marathon winners who went on to win an Olympic gold medal.

by James Dunaway

Frank Shorter

In 1972, in Eugene, Oregon, Yale graduate Shorter and his friend Kenny Moore tied for firstplace in the Olympic Trials Marathon in 2:15:57.8, a very fast time in those days. The twoset a searing pace from the start, and the eight optimists who tried to stay with them got runinto the ground (seven of the eight didn’t finish). Running more judiciously, Jack Batchelerand Jeff Galloway, Shorter’s Florida Track Club teammates, finished third and fourth in2:20:29.2. – 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 tofinish in a personal best of 2:12:20, nearly half a mile ahead of silver medalist Karel Lismontof Belgium.

Shorter’s Olympic marathon victory, the first by an American in 60 years and the firstOlympic marathon to be widely televised, was credited with sparking America’s runningboom, which 40 years later is still growing.

If Shorter’s 1972 victories were dominating, what Joan Benoit did on May 12, 1984 wasamazing. On March 16, her right knee locked up 15 miles into a 20-mile training run, andshe literally could not run another step. In the weeks that followed, she tried extra days ofrest 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, stayedclose to the lead for the first half of the race. Then, incredibly, she took the lead and steppedup the pace. In one of the most courageous performances in track and field history, shepulled away steadily and finished in 2:31:04, a comfortable 170 meters or so ahead of run-ner-up Julie Brown.

Her August 5 Olympic victory was almost anti-climactic. Facing the strongest women’s fieldever assembled and ignoring the uncomfortably warm 75-degree temperature, Benoit ledalmost all the way and finished in 2:24:52, the third fastest in history. As she ran down thehome stretch of the L.A. Coliseum, runner-up Grete Waitz was just entering the stadiummore than a lap behind.

Unforgettable, these two – Frank Shorter and Joan Benoit Samuelson.


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2012 U.S. OlympicTrials–Marathon program

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