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In this edition:
Keflezighi Captures Olympic Marathon Trials Title
Flanagan Shatters Olympic Marathon Trials Record in Houston
Fast Facts: U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials - Men's
Fast Facts: U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials - Women's
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Keflezighi Captures Olympic Marathon Trials Title
Fellow Olympians Hall, Abdirahman also earn berths to London Olympics; deepest men's Trials ever
By Steve Nearman, Running USA wire
HOUSTON - (January 14, 2012) - All eyes were on America's fastest marathoner Ryan Hall (Big Bear High School 2001; Stanford 2005)at today's 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon, but it was Hall's former Mammoth Lakes training partner Meb Keflezighi (San Diego High School 1994; UCLA 1998) who stole the show.
Keflezighi bided his time until the 24 mile mark along Allen Parkway in Sam Houston Park, slowly pulling away from Abdi Abdirahman then Hall and hung on in the final miles for the victory in a personal best 2 hours, 9 minutes, 8 seconds. He capped his triumph by carrying a U.S. flag down the final stretch.
Hall followed 22 seconds later in second and Abdirahman surprised many with a third-place 2:09:47. Some 85 elite athletes completed the historic event.
All three earned a ticket to the London Olympic marathon on August 12. In addition, Keflezighi earned $50,000 for the win plus $20,000 bonus if he participates in the Olympic Marathon and another $4000 as USA Track & Field national champion (his second U.S. marathon title). Hall ran away with a total of $43,000 and Abdirahman $32,000 (both will also earn the $20,000 bonus in London).
With the Keflezighi-Hall-Abdirahman card, the United States brings to the Olympic Marathon its oldest and most experienced threesome ever. At 36, Keflezighi becomes the oldest U.S. Olympic Trials champion in the marathon, and with Hall and Abdirahman, the three comprise the oldest average age ever, just shy of 33 years of age.
Amongst the three, they have had six Olympic appearances, including three for Abdirahman.
They also ran some of the fastest Olympic Trials times ever. Except for Hall's 2:09:02 record in New York at the 2008 Trials, nobody has run faster at this event than Keflezighi, Hall and Abdirahman did today. In fact, today's race was the first time ever four men ran under 2:10 at the Olympic Trials.
The fast times were a product of a very fast opening pace on the flat course around downtown Houston and Sam Houston Park. Hall pushed the lead pack hard through the first 10 kilometers in 29:53.
Said Keflezighi, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Eritrea, who also made the Olympic Marathon team in 2004 (silver medal): "The race started great. It was tough getting it down to as few people as possible. We got it down to five people and then said "Hey, let's be on the team'."
By eight miles, the lead pack was whittled down to five. Hall, who dominated the 2008 Trials and came in today with a 2:04:58 personal best at Boston last year, continued to press the pace, taking the leaders through the half-marathon mark in 1:03:25.
"The pace car was getting me riled up when I saw 2:06 up there for projected finish, and it got down to 2:05 once," said Hall, who left Mammoth Lakes to train on his own over a year ago. "It got increasingly windy and the concrete was kind of brutal on the quads."
After 19 straight sub-5:00 miles, the speed caught up with the front-runners, which now was just Hall, Keflezighi and Abdirahman. The three began exchanging encouraging words about all making the team.
"With three guys with four or five miles to go, it was all about being on the team," said Keflezighi, whose training cycle was shortened by three weeks after his personal best run at the New York City Marathon 69 days ago due to an infection in his foot. "It's not about being first, second or third. I'm just delighted to be part of these guys to go to London. I'm honored to win this race, but a lot of guys would be glad to be in our shoes and be on this team."
The last six miles all were run over five-minute pace. As Keflezighi left Hall at the 24-mile mark, it was apparent that his Keflezighi and Hall were going to London.
Abdirahman was not so safe. The 2008 Trials runner-up Dathan Ritzenhein was still within striking range in fourth. But Abdirahman, feeling the effects of the early pace, was able to best Ritzenhein by eight seconds at the finish, notching the third and final spot on the Olympic team.
A disappointed Ritzenhein was designated to the alternate spot in the unlikely event that one of the top three do not run the Olympic Marathon. He has a strong shot at a spot on the 10,000-meter Olympic squad, however.
"I've been friends with Meb close to 20 years probably," said Abdirahman, a naturalized citizen from Somalia. "Ryan took it out at 63 high (half-marathon) pace and I felt good. Meb and I said 'Let's work together and make this team'."
For Abdirahman, the Tucson, AZ, resident had a huge dose of redemption. Entering the Trials with the 14th-fastest qualifying time, Abdi had not run under 2:14 since setting his personal best of 2:08:56 in 2006. He was hampered by injuries for a year and a half but did put together a solid string of races last year. His 2:09:42 today was his fastest marathon since 2006 as he earned his fourth Olympic Team berth at age 33.
The youthful Hall, summed it up. "I was telling them after the race, 'I watched you guys making the 10K (2000 Olympic) Team when I was in high school! They make me feel very young, and I'm 29. You realize what an honor it is to be on this team and what it takes to get here. The potential we have to go win medals is great. [Meb] is going to be a great leader for us."
This race produced the #2-5 and #9 all-time Olympic Trials performances, the deepest men's Trials ever with best times for place (#2-15) and the second most sub-2:20 performances (50) at the Trials (record 56 in 1980). In addition, 19 men set personal records.
12th U.S. Men's Olympic Marathon Trials
Houston, TX, Saturday, January 14, 2012
1) Meb Keflezighi (CA), 2:09:08, $54,000#
2) Ryan Hall (CA), 2:09:30, $43,000#
3) Abdi Abdirahman (AZ), 2:09:47, $32,000#
4) Dathan Ritzenhein (OR), 2:09:55, $21,000
5) Brett Gotcher (Aptos HS 2002; Stanford 2007) (AZ), 2:11:06, $15,500
6) Andrew Carlson (MN), 2:11:24, $10,000
7) Fernando Cabada (Buchanan HS, Clovis 2000; Arkansas 2003; Virginia Intermont 2006) (CO), 2:11:53, $8000
8) Nick Arciniaga (Fountain Valley HS 2001; CSU Fullerton 2005) (AZ), 2:11:56, $7000
9) James Carney (CO), 2:12:23, $6000
10) Jimmy Grabow (Rim of the World High School, Running Springs; San Bernardino Valley; CSU Long Beach 2007) (CA), 2:12:29, $4000
#includes USATF prize money; plus $20,000 bonus for Olympic Marathon participation
==========================================================================
Keith Conning: Five of the top 10 ran for California high schools.
For full results and more, go to: www.hmcpresscenter.com
Flanagan Shatters Olympic Marathon Trials Record in Houston
Davila, Goucher also make Olympic Marathon team in deepest women's Trials ever
By Jim Gerweck, Running USA wire
HOUSTON - (January 14, 2012) - On a weekend when sports wagering spiked, if you bet the chalk at the women's Olympic Marathon Trials, you hit the trifecta.
Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Davila and Kara Goucher, the pre-race favorites on most pundits' form charts, came through as predicted, running the fastest times in the deepest race in the 28-year history of the event. Flanagan, 30, who has been on two Olympic track squads, showed she's made the transition to marathoner a complete one, pulling away from Davila in the final miles to a 2 hour, 25 minute, 38 second Trials and USA Championship record win, and a PR by 3:02. Davila, 28, who came within two seconds of winning the Boston Marathon last April, made her first Olympic team, 17 seconds back. And Goucher, 33, relatively short on training after taking 2010 off to have a baby, won the war of attrition for the coveted third spot and made her second Olympic team in 2:26:06.
"It was really encouraging to win and set a big PR," Flanagan said afterward. "But there's more to come, more work to be done to put myself in contention for a medal in London."
Flanagan and Davila were the prohibitive pre-race favorites to make the team, while Goucher was more of an unknown quantity. "I've never been so nervous, never wanted anything so much," she said. "Ask Shalane, I've been a wreck."
Fortunately, the race played into her favor, going out at a pedestrian 6:11 first mile. "The longer it stayed like that, the happier I was," Goucher said.
Davila, lacking the track credentials of the two Oregon TC training mates, felt the opposite. "I knew my job was to keep that pace strong, not let it get too soft," she said. "I did the job I needed to do, although I think it cost me a little in the last miles. I had mixed feelings, wanting to make one last push to try to catch Shalane, but also aware that Kara was right there and wanting to protect the place I had."
Davila got help in whittling down the early lead pack, which numbered close to a dozen, from former Arizona State teammate Amy Hastings, who made several aggressive moves in the lead that shed several members of the pack, including Trials defending champ Deena Kastor, who wound up sixth in 2:30:40.
"I knew there were some amazing women up there," said Hastings, 27, a member of the same Mammoth Track Club training group as Kastor. Running only her second marathon, Hastings said, "I felt like I had to stir the waters and maybe if any of them dropped. I think I just ran out of fuel near the end. The last mile was kind of emotional, but it was a great experience that will help me in four years."
Davila made the same sort of mistakes in Boston four years ago, and that race served as the springboard to her ascension in the upper echelon of American women's marathoning. For her, the future looks bright.
But the present might be even more promising for the U.S. women's marathon team for London, with multiple Olympic and World Championships medals and Marathon Majors top placings among them. "This is an amazing squad," said Davila. "I'm glad to be a part of it."
For Kastor, a 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, it was bittersweet: "Houston created a great stage for the athletes to shine. I gave it my best today. I stayed engaged the entire 26.2 miles so I couldn't ask for more, it just wasn't enough today."
Linda Somers Smith, 50, set a U.S. 50-54 age group record in 2:37:36, good for 28th overall. Somers Smith has qualified for a record 7 Olympic Marathon Trials and in Houston, she finished her 5th Trials overall.
Overall, it was the first time that five women were under 2:30 at the Olympic Marathon Trials and the race produced the #1-4 and #8 all-time Olympic Trials performances and it was the deepest women's Trials ever with best times for place (#1-15). In addition, 35 women set personal records on the multi-loop course.
8th U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials
Houston, TX, Saturday, January 14, 2012
1) Shalane Flanagan (OR), 2:25:38*, $54,000#
2) Desiree Davila (MI), 2:25:55, $43,000#
3) Kara Goucher (OR), 2:26:06, $32,000#
4) Amy Hastings (CA), 2:27:17, $21,000
5) Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (GA), 2:29:45, $15,500
6) Deena Kastor (CA), 2:30:40, $10,000
7) Clara Grandt (WV), 2:30:46, $8000
8) Alissa McKaig (NC), 2:31:56, $7000
9) Dot McMahan (MI), 2:32:16, $6000
10) Magdalena Lewy Boulet (CA), 2:33:42, $4000
*Olympic Trials, USA Championship, U.S. Women-Only and personal records (previous records, 2:28:25, Colleen De Reuck, 2004; 2:25:53, Kara Goucher, 2008; 2:26:26, Julie Brown, 1983 and 2:28:40, 2010).
#includes USATF prize money; plus $20,000 bonus for Olympic Marathon participation
For full results and more, go to: www.hmcpresscenter.com
FAST FACTS
U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon
Houston, TX, Saturday, January 14, 2012
Downtown 8 mile loop course - 3 laps with 2.2 mile loop before main course
Weather: sunny, clear
Temperature: 39F (start); 54F (finish)
Wind: WSW 9-12 mph
Qualifiers = 158
Declared = 113
Starters = 111
Finishers = 85
Prize purse = $250,000, which includes $20,000 bonus per runner for Olympic Marathon participation, with $50,000 for the Olympic Trials champion
Half-Marathon split = 1:03:25 (Hall, Abdirahman, Ritzenhein, Keflezighi and Trafeh)
First time four men under 2:10 at the Olympic Marathon Trials
This race produced the #2-5 and #9 all-time Olympic Trials performances:
2:09:02 1 Ryan Hall (2008)
2:09:08 1 Meb Keflezighi (2012)
2:09:30 2 Ryan Hall (2012)
2:09:47 3 Abdi Abidrahman (2012)
2:09:55 4 Dathan Ritzenhein (2012)
2:10:19 1 Tony Sandoval (1980)
2:10:41 2 Benji Durden (1980)
2:10:55 3 Kyle Heffner (1980)
2:11:06 5 Brett Gotcher (2012)
2:11:07 2 Dathan Ritzenhein (2008)
The deepest men's Trials ever with best times for place (#2-15):
Best Time for Place at U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
1st 2:09:02 Ryan Hall (2008)
2nd 2:09:30 Ryan Hall (2012)
3rd 2:09:47 Abdi Abidrahman (2012)
4th 2:09:55 Dathan Ritzenhein (2012)
5th 2:11:06 Brett Gotcher (2012)
6th 2:11:24 Andrew Carlson (2012)
7th 2:11:53 Fernando Cabada (2012)
8th 2:11:56 Nick Arciniaga (2012)
9th 2:12:23 James Carney (2012)
10th 2:12:29 Jimmy Grabow (2012)
11th 2:12:43 Ryan Vail (2012)
12th 2:13:41 Ricky Flynn (2012)
13th 2:13:42 Patrick Rizzo (2012)
14th 2:13:50 Josh Cox (2012)
15th 2:14:04 Ian Burrell (2012)
At age 36, Meb Keflezighi is the oldest U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials men's champion (previous oldest, Rod DeHaven, 33, in 2000).
Keflezighi's time - 2:09:08 - was a personal record by 5 seconds.
This is the oldest U.S. men's Olympic Marathon team with an average age of just under 33-years-old.
Abdi Abdirahman earned his fourth U.S. Olympic team berth; Keflezighi his third and Hall his second.
The second most sub-2:20 performances (50) at the Trials (record 56 in 1980)
19 personal records set by:
Meb Keflezighi, 2:09:08
Dathan Ritzenhein, 2:09:55
Fernando Cabada, 2:11:53
James Carney, 2:12:23
Josh Cox, 2:13:50
Mike Morgan, 2:14:22
Max King, 2:14:36
Michael Reneau, 2:14:37
Drew Polley, 2:14:58
Daniel Tapia, 2:15:28
Craig Leon, 2:15:42
Keith Bechtol, 2:16:02
Zachary Hine, 2:16:40
Allen Wagner, 2:17:16
Adam MacDowell, 2:17:27
Donovan Fellow, 2:17:30
Chris Erichsen, 2:17:52
Jeff Jonaitis, 2:17:56
Josh Eberly, 2:18:35
FAST FACTS
U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon
Houston, TX, Saturday, January 14, 2012
Downtown 8 mile loop course - 3 laps with 2.2 mile loop before main course
Weather: sunny, clear
Temperature: 40F (start); 57F (finish)
Wind: WSW 9-12 mph
Qualifiers = 225
Declared = 188
Starters = 183
Finishers = 152
Prize purse = $250,000, which includes $20,000 bonus per runner for Olympic Marathon participation, with $50,000 for the Olympic Trials champion
Half-Marathon split = 1:13:30 (Hastings, Davila, Flanagan and Goucher)
Shalane Flanagan's 2:25:38 set an Olympic Trials, USA Championship, U.S. Women-Only and personal records (previous records, 2:28:25, Colleen De Reuck, 2004; 2:25:53, Kara Goucher, 2008; 2:26:26, Julie Brown, 1983 and 2:28:40, 2010).
First time five women under 2:30 at the Olympic Marathon Trials
This race produced the #1-4 and #8 all-time Olympic Trials performances:
2:25:38 1 Shalane Flanagan (2012)
2:25:55 2 Desiree Davila (2012)
2:26:06 3 Kara Goucher (2012)
2:27:17 4 Amy Hastings (2012)
2:28:25 1 Colleen De Reuck (2004)
2:29:35 1 Deena Kastor (2008)
2:29:38 2 Deena Kastor (2004)
2:29:45 5 Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (2012)
2:29:50 1 Margaret Groos (1988)
2:29:54 1 Jenny Spangler (1996)
The deepest women's Trials ever with best times for place (#1-15):
Best Time for Place at U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
1st 2:25:38 Shalane Flanagan (2012)
2nd 2:25:55 Desiree Davila (2012)
3rd 2:26:06 Kara Goucher (2012)
4th 2:27:17 Amy Hastings (2012)
5th 2:29:45 Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (2012)
6th 2:30:40 Deena Kastor (2012)
7th 2:30:46 Clara Grandt (2012)
8th 2:31:56 Alissa McKaig (2012)
9th 2:32:16 Dot McMahan (2012)
10th 2:33:42 Magdalena Lewy Boulet (2012)
11th 2:34:01 Katie McGregor (2012)
12th 2:34:25 Wendy Thomas (2012)
13th 2:34:33 Melissa White (2012)
14th 2:35:09 Alisha Williams (2012)
15th 2:35:45 Heidi Westover (2012)
Third Olympic team for Shalane Flanagan; second for Goucher and first for Davila
The most sub-2:40 marathon female performances (41) at the Trials ever (old record, 31 in 1984)
The most female Trials finishers (152) since 1988 (159)
Linda Somers Smith, 50, set a U.S. 50-54 age group record in 2:37:36, good for 28th overall. Somers Smith has qualified for a record 7 Olympic Marathon Trials and in Houston, she finished her 5th Trials race overall.
35 personal records set by:
Shalane Flanagan, 2:25:38
Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, 2:29:45
Alissa McKaig, 2:31:56
Heidi Westover, 2:35:45
Brooke Wells, 2:36:24
Loretta Kilmer, 2:36:41
Jeannette Faber, 2:36:50
Michelle Frey, 2:37:03
Erin Nehus, 2:37:06
Sheri Piers, 2:37:09
Kelly Calway, 2:37:10
Camille Herron, 2:37:14
Esther Erb, 2:37:21
Rachel Booth, 2:37:59
Caroline LeFrak, 2:38:14
Devon Crosby-Helms, 2:38:55
Nicole Camp, 2:39:10
Kathleen Castles, 2:39:19
Lauren Philbrook, 2:39:47
Emily Potter, 2:39:55
Kara Storage, 2:39:59
Tara Storage, 2:40:00
Michele Suszek, 2:40:33
Alexandra Blake, 2:40:36
Allison Macsas, 2:40:47
Laura Farley, 2:41:05
Meagan Nedlo, 2:41:06
Jodie Robertson, 2:42:31
Megan Skeels, 2:42:40
Tyler Stewart, 2:44:04
Adrian Chouinard, 2:44:06
Julia Stamps, 2:44:07
Nicole Porath, 2:44:12
Jackie Pirtle-Hall, 2:44:22
Jackie Rzepecki, 2:44:36
Contact Information
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director, ryan@runningusa.org, (805) 696-6232
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