The pair ultimately took charge in two professionally executed, respectably paced, coolly run races that rewarded the athletes that pushed hard from the start and left no doubt about who deserved tickets to this summer’s London Olympic Games.
U.S. marathon record holder Ryan Hall, who led for most of the men’s race, finished second in 2:09:30 and Abdi Abdirahman, a three-time Olympian, claimed third in 2:09:47 to secure the other two men’s Olympic slots. Desiree Davila (2:25.55), the 2011 Boston Marathon runner-up, and Kara Goucher (2:26:06), the 2007 world bronze medalist in the 5,000, earned the final two women’s slots.
Both trios ran in front over their races’ waning miles, effectively settling the issue of who would represent the United States in London well before the finish.
“Having the race unfold as it did is a very good simulator for the Olympic Games,” Hall said. “The Olympic Games marathon has changed. . . . Guys aren’t afraid to run hard.”
Flanagan’s finishing time not only represented a personal best by more than three minutes, it also was the fastest marathon finish in U.S. championship and Olympic trials history. On the men’s side, Keflezighi also set a personal best, his by five seconds, just 69 days after finishing sixth in the New York City Marathon. Never had two men gone under 2:10 in a U.S. Olympic trials marathon, let alone four.
Keflezeghi, the oldest Olympic marathon trials winner in U.S. history at 36, celebrated his victory over the last mile, grabbing a small flag from a spectator and waving it as he raced to the finish, where his 74-year-old father hoisted him onto his shoulders. Flanagan, 30, meantime, said her mind was torn between elation and agony in the homestretch.
“The last mile was a cross between savoring the moment and just being really grateful that I was almost done,” she said.
Dathan Ritzenhein, a 2004 Olympian in the 10,000, produced the most dramatic moment of the day, closing a gap that reached more than 30 seconds to claim fourth place just eight seconds out of third. When he crossed the line, he crouched down, put his head in his hands, and sobbed.
Amy Hastings, a college roommate of Davila’s at Arizona State University, finished fourth for the women in 2:27:17 after dropping out of the lead pack at around the 20-mile mark. Three-time Olympian Deena Kastor (sixth in 2:30:40) and Kenyan-born Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (fifth, 2:29:45) had fallen back earlier.
Loading...
Comments