U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
HISTORY

• 2024 Live Tracking

• 2024 Athlete Bios

• 2024 Fast Facts

• 2024 Qualifying Standards

• 2020 Photos by Kevin Morris

• Past Champions

• Men’s Race History

• Women’s Race History

• Sources

2024 Athlete Bios

Crow Athletics is proud to feature the following athletes who are club members, past participants of our events, or Maine runners. Click HERE for a complete list of 2024 athletes competing in Orlando.

• Malcom Richards, QT-2:16:15 @ 2022 Grandma’s Marathon [bio] — 2009 Great Cranberry Island Mud Mile champion and course record holder, 2009 Northeast Harbor Road Race champion.

• Matt Rand, QT-2:17:11 @ 2023 Bakline's McKirdy Micro Marathon [bio] — Maine runner.

• Ben Decker, QT-2:17:16 @ 2023 Bakline's McKirdy Micro Marathon [bio] — Maine runner.

• Ryan Jara, QT-2:17:19 @ 2023 Bakline's McKirdy Micro Marathon [bio] — Maine runner, 2x Robert Burns 10K champion in 2023 and 2020.

• Henry Sterling, QT-2:17:21 @ 2022 California International Marathon [bio] — Maine runner.

• Dan Vassallo, QT-2:17:39 @ 2023 Bakline's McKirdy Micro Marathon [bio] — 2016 Mount Desert Island Marathon champion, multiple July 4th Around MDI Relay team victories, multiple DEST Relay team podium finishes.

• Brian Harvey, QT-2:17:40 @ 2022 Grandma’s Marathon [bio] — 2016 Mount Desert Island Half-Marathon champion, 2018 Ellsworth 10K Champion.

• Molly Seidel, QT-2:23:07 @ 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon [bio] — Set a 34:40 FKT (Fastest Known Turkey) 10K dressed as a turkey on Thanksgiving morning on Great Cranberry Island in 2020.

• Emily Durgin, QT-2:26:46 @ 2023 Toronto Waterfront [bio] — Maine runner.

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2024 Fast Facts

OLDEST QUALIFIERS ENTERED
Men: Abdi Abdirahman, 47 (Tucson, AZ) via 2020 US Olympic Marathon Team
Women: Dot McMahan, 47 (Oakland Township, MI) 2:35:22

YOUNGEST QUALIFIERS ENTERED
Men: Adam Sjolund, 22 (Bonney Lake, WA) 2:17:02
Women: Ava Nuttall, 22 (Oxford, OH) 2:35:09

NUMBER OF MASTERS (AGE 40+) ATHLETES
Men: 10, Trials record
Women: 7

ENTRANTS WHO HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE MOST MARATHON TRIALS
Men (4): Abdi Abdirahman, Fernando Cabada, Sergio Reyes, and Galen Rupp, Mike Sayenko, 5-time qualifiers (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024)
Women (2): Desiree Linden (nee Davila) and Dot McMahan, 5-time qualifiers (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024)

TOP 10 STATES WITH MOST ATHLETES ENTERED
Colorado: 40 men, 31 women = 71 athletes
California: 25 men, 10 women = 35 athletes
Arizona: 16 men, 16 women = 32 athletes
Michigan: 14 men, 15 women = 29 athletes
Massachusetts: 17 men, 8 women = 25 athletes
Utah: 10 men, 5 women = 15 athletes
Minnesota: 7 men, 7 women = 14 athletes
New York: 11 men, 3 women = 14 athletes
North Carolina: 6 men, 8 women = 14 athletes
Oregon: 5 men, 9 women = 14 athletes

PRIZE PURSE
With less than a week to go, the 2024 prize money structure was finally announced on January 28th. Totaling $600,000, the prize money will be distributed among the top 10 male and female finishers as shown below:

2024 prize purse structure:
• 1st M&F: $80K
• 2nd M&F: $65K
• 3rd M&F: $55K
• 4th M&F: $25K
• 5th M&F: $20K
• 6th M&F: $15K
• 7th M&F: $13K
• 8th M&F: $11K
• 9th M&F: $9K
• 10th M&F: $7K

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2024 Qualifying Standards

To be eligible to compete in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon, runners were required to meet the following qualifying standards between January 1, 2022, and December 5, 2023, for a marathon or between January 1, 2022, and December 5, 2023, for a half marathon.

Women’s Team Qualifying Note: The top three women at the Trials who have run 2:29:30 or faster between November 1, 2022, and February 3, 2024, will go to the Olympics.

Men’s Team Qualifying Note: As of publication of the official Media Guide, the top TWO finishers in the men’s race will be named to Team USA for the Paris 2024 Olympics if they finish the Trials in 2:11:30 or faster or if they have done so on a World Athletics-certified course in the qualifying period of November 1, 2022, to February 3, 2024. This is due to U.S. men earning two automatic qualifying spots by recording two finishing times of 2:08:10 or faster during that window. If any of the top three finishers in Orlando (other than Conner Mantz or Clayton Young, who have already run those times) runs 2:08:10 or faster, a third spot will be instantly “unlocked,” and the third-place finisher will also be named to Team USA. If none of the top three finishers does so, the third-place finisher could still be named to the team based on the Road to Paris rankings that will be finalized on May 5. 2024, so long as he has run 2:11:30 or faster during the qualifying window. (Read more from Let’s Run HERE and USATF directly HERE.)

2024 Paris Olympic Games
The men’s marathon will be on August 10 and the women’s marathon on August 11.

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Past Champions

Men

• 2020: Galen Rupp - 2:09:20

• 2016: Galen Rupp - 2:11:12

• 2012: Meb Keflezghi - 2:09:08

• 2008: Ryan Hall - 2:09:02* [Trials record, USA Championship record]

• 2004: Alan Culpepper - 2:11:42

• 2000: Rod DeHaven - 2:15:30

• 1996: Bob Kempainen - 2:12:45

• 1992: Steve Spence 2:12:43

• 1988: Mark Conover - 2:12:26

• 1984: Pete Pfitzinger - 2:11:43

• 1980: Tony Sandoval - 2:10:19

• 1976: Frank Shorter - 2:11:51

• 1972: Frank Shorter/Kenny Moore - 2:15:58 [tie]

• 1968: George Young - 2:30:48

Women

• 2020: Aliphine Tuliamuk - 2:27:23

• 2016: Amy Cragg - 2:28:20

• 2012: Shalane Flanagan - 2:25:38* [Trials record]

• 2008: Deena Kastor - 2:29:35

• 2004: Colleen de Reuck - 2:33:31

• 2000: Chris Clark - 2:33:31

• 1996: Jenny Spangler - 2:29:54

• 1992: Janis Klecker - 2:30:12

• 1988: Margaret Groos - 2:29:50

• 1984: Joan Benoit - 2:31:04

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Men’s Race History

• 2020

• 2016

• 2012

• 2008

• 2004

• 2000

• 1996

• 1992

• 1988

• 1984

• 1980

• 1976

• 1972

• 1968

2020 - February 29: Atlanta, Georgia

Time standard = 2:15:00 (A), 2:19:00 (B)
Also (B): half-marathon = 1:04:00
261 qualifiers, 241 starters, 175 finishers
Prize money = $240,000
Viewing Party: HERE
Kevin Morris Photos: HERE
Host Olympic City: Tokyo, Japan

[1] Galen Rupp 33 (OR) 2:09:20 $80,000
[2] Jacob Riley 31 (CO) 2:10:02 $65,000
[3] Abdi Abdirahman 43 (AZ) 2:10:03 $55,000
[4] Leonard Korir 33 (CO) 2:10:06 $20,000
[5] Augustus Mayaio 36 (CO) 2:10:47 $10,000

[6] Martin Hehir 27 (PA) 2:11:29 $6,000; [7] Clayton Albertson 26 (CA) 2:11:49 $3,000; [8] Jonas Hampton 31 (MA) 2:12:10 $1,000; [9] Colin Bennie 24 (MA) 2:12:14, [10] Matt McDonald 26 (GA) 2:12:19, [11] Tyler Pennel 32 (NC) 2:12:34, [12] Scott Fauble 28 (AZ) 2:12:39, [13] Haron Lagat 36 (CO) 2:13:04, [14] Brendan Gregg 30 (MI) 2:13:27, [15] Colin Mickow 29 (IL) 2:13:45, [16] Elkanah Kibet 36 (CO) 2:13:52, [17] Josh Izewski 29 (NC) 2:14:15, [18] Bernard Lagat 45 (AZ) 2:14:23, [19] Scott Smith 33 (AZ) 2:14:49, [20] Nico Montanez 26 (CA) 2:15:02, [21] Sam Chelanga 35 (SC) 2:15:04, [22] Jim Walmsley 30 (AZ) 2:15:05, [23] Ahmed Osman 32 (AZ) 2:15:26, [24] Enoch Nadler 24 (FL) 2:15:30, [25] Grant Fischer 25 (CO) 2:15:32 • [36] Malcolm Richards 37 (CA) 2:17:13, [95] Henry Sterling 28 (AZ/ME) 2:24:40, [100] Dan Vassallo 34 (MA) 2:24:59, [108] Matt Rand 28 (NY/ME) 2:25:42, [115] Ryan Smith 24 (ME) 2:26:14, [116] Brian Harvey 32 (MA) 2:26:37, • under 2:20—55 • 50th—2:19:08 • 100th—2:24:59 • DNF—66.

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2016 - February 3: Los Angeles, California

An initial 2.2-mile loop and then four 6-mile loops
Time standard = 2:15:00 (A), 2:19:00 (B)
Also (B): half-marathon = 1:05:00
211 qualifiers, 166 starters, 105 finishers
Prize money = $300,000
Viewing Party: HERE
Kevin Morris Photos: HERE
Host Olympic City: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rupp, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist at 10,000 meters who announced just two weeks before that he would run the Trials as his first marathon, pulled away from 40-year-old Meb Keflezighi, who was running his 23rd, in Mile 23. Rupp was the first man to win the Trials as a rookie since George Young in 1968, and would go on to win the bronze medal in Rio.

[1] Galen Rupp (OR) 2:11:12 $80,000
[2] Meb Keflezighi (CA) 2:12:20 $65,000
[3] Jared Ward (UT) 2:13:00 $55,000
[4] Luke Puskedra (OR) 2:14:12 $25,000
[5] Tyler Pennel (NC) 2:14:57 $20,000

[6] Matthew Llano (AZ) 2:15:16 $15,000; [7] Shadrack Biwott (CA) 2:15:23 $13,000; [8] Patrick Smyth (NM) 2:15:26 $11,000; [9] Sean Quigley (CO) 2:15:52 $9,000; [10] Nick Arciniaga (AZ) 2:16:25 $7,000; [11] Timothy Young (VA) 2:17:09, [12] Max King (OR) 2:17:14, [13] Jeffrey Eggleston (CO) 2:17:19, [14] Scott Smith (AZ) 2:17:33, [15] Jacob Riley (MI) 2:18:31, [16] Augustus Maiyo (CO) 2:18:33, [17] Benjamin Payne (CO) 2:18:37, [18] Malcolm Richards (CA) 2:18:40, [19] Elkanah Kibet (NC) 2:20:10, [20] Brendan Martin (NY) 2:20:41, [21] Ethan Shaw (CA) 2:20:56, [22] Mike Morgan (MI) 2:20:59, [23] Nathan Martin (MI) 2:21:27, [24] Kieran O'Connor (VA) 2:21:36, [25] Timothy Ritchie (MA) 2:22:15 • [32] Brian Harvey (MA) 2:23:17, [42] Dan Vassallo (MA) 2:26:05 • under 2:25—39 • 50th—2:27:28 • 100th—2:50:15 • DNF—61.

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2012 - Saturday, January 14: Houston, Texas

Time standard = 2:19:00 (A); no (B)
Also (A): half-marathon = 1:05:00 and 10,000m (track) = 28:30.00
158 qualifiers, 111 starters, 85 finishers
Prize money = $260,500
Kevin Morris Photos: HERE
Host Olympic City: London, United Kingdom

For the first time, the top four men all ran under 2:10 at the Trials. Dathan Ritzenhein just missed the team, but would end up making Team USA for the London Games at 10,000 meters. Abdi Abdirahman made his fourth Olympic team, after competing at 10,000 meters in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

[1] Meb Keflezighi 36 (CA) 2:09:08 $74,000
[2] Ryan Hall 29 (CA) 2:09:30 $63,000
[3] Abdi Abdirahman 33 (AZ) 2:09:47 $52,000
[4] Dathan Ritzenhein 29 (CO) 2:09:55 $21,000
[5] Brett Gotcher 27 (AZ) 2:11:06 $15,500

[6] Andrew Carlsen 29 (MN) 2:11:04 $10,000; [7] Fernando Cabada 29 (CO) 2:11:53 $8,000; [8] Nick Arciniaga 28 (AZ) 2:11:56 $7,000; [9] James Carney 33 (CO) 2:12:23 $6,000; [10] Jimmy Grabow 27 (CA), 2:12:29 $4,000; [11] Ryan Vail 25 (OR) 2:12:43, [12] Ricky Flynn 24 (VA) 2:13:41, [13] Patrick Rizzo 28 (CO) 2:13:42, [14] Josh Cox 36 (CA) 2:13:50, [15] Ian Burrell 25 (AZ) 2:14:04, [16] Sean Quigley 26 (MA) 2:14:12, [17] Mike Morgan 31 (MI) 2:14:22, [18] Jason Lehmkuhle 34 (MN) 2:14:35, [19] Max King 31 (OR) 2:14:36, [20] Michael Reneau 33 (MN) 2:14:37, [21] Drew Polley 26 (MI) 2:14:58, [22] Patrick Smyth 25 (CA) 2:15:00, [23] Ryan Bak 30 (OR) 2:15:12, [24] Daniel Tapia 25 (CA) 2:15:28, [25] Sergio Reyes 30 (CA) 2:15:41, [51] Malcolm Richards 29 (CA) 2:20:15, [62] Michael Wardian 37 (VA) 2:21:50 • under 2:20—50 • 85th—2:42:21 • DNF—26.

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2008 - Saturday, November 3, 2007: New York City, New York

Time standard = 2:20:00 (A), 2:22:00 (B)
Also: (B) 5000m (track) = 13:40:00 & 10,000m (track) = 28:45:00
179 qualifiers, 130 starters, 104 finishers
Prize money = $250,000
Host Olympic City: Beijing, China

Ryan Hall ran a brave and brilliant race in Central Park for the only marathon victory of his career, in a still-standing Trials record. Tragedy struck early, however, when Ryan Shay collapsed just past 5 miles and was pronounced dead of a heart attack.

[1] Ryan Hall 25 (CA) 2:09:02 $80,000 [Trials and USA Championship record]
[2] Dathan Ritzenhein 24 (OR) 2:11:07 $60,000
[3] Brian Sell 29 (MI) 2:11:40 $50,000
[4] Khalid Khannouchi 36 (NY) 2:12:34 $20,000
[5] Jason Lemkuhle 30 (MN) 2:12:54 $12,000

[6] Daniel Browne 32 (OR) 2:13:23 $10,000; [7] Nathaniel Jenkins 27 (MA) 2:14:56 $8,000; [8] Meb Keflezighi 32 (CA) 2:15:09 $5,000; [9] Josh Rohatinsky 25 (OR) 2:15:22 $3,000; [10] Jason Hartmann 26 (CO) 2:15:27 $2,000; [11] Matthew Gonzales 26 (NM) 2:16:14, [12] Mike Morgan 27 (MI) 2:16:28, [13] Fasil Bizuneh 27 (AZ) 2:16:47, [14] James Carney 29 (CO) 2:16:54, [15] Steve Sundell 25 (CA) 2:16:54, [16] Christopher Raabe 28 (DC) 2:17:01, [17] Nick Arciniaga 24 (MI) 2:17:08, [18] Clint Verran 32 (MI) 2:17:10, [19] Matt Pelletier 28 (RI) 2:17:17, [20] Chad Johnson 31 (MI) 2:17:58, [21] Joshua Ordway 27 (OH) 2:18:10, [22] Jacob Frey 26 (VA) 2:18:19, [23] Joe Driscoll 28 (NC) 2:18:22, [24] John Mentzer 31 (CA) 2:18:23, [25] Allen Wagner 27 (CA) 2:18:25, [92] Micahel Wardian 33 (VA) 2:30:54 • under 2:20—39 • 50th—2:22:11 • under 2:30—88 • 100th—2:36:09 • DNF—26.

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2004 - Saturday, February 7: Birmingham, Alabama

Time standard = 2:20:00 (A), 2:22:00 (B)
104 qualifiers, 85 starters, 70 finishers, 1 DQ
Prize money = $271,000
Host Olympic City: Athens, Greece

Under gray skies, cold temperatures and windy conditions, emerging star Brian Sell, 25, of Rochester Hills, Michigan made the race with his bold front-running before the chasing pack eventually caught him at 21 miles on the critierium course's third loop. In the final stages, 2000 Olympians Alan Culpepper and Meb Keflezighi pulled away to wage another memorable duel with Culpepper prevailing by five seconds, 2:11:42 to 2:11:47. Dan Browne protected his third position to claim the final coveted U.S. Olympic marathon team spot in 2:12:02, while relative unknown Trent Briney broke thru with his 2:12:35 fourth place finish. Meb Keflezighi would go on to win a surprise Olympic silver medal in Athens.

[1] Alan Culpepper 32 (CO) 2:11:42 $89,000
[2] Meb Keflezighi 29 (CA) 2:11:47 $60,50o
[3] Dan Browne 29 (OR) 2:12:02 $47,000
[4] Trent Briney 26 (MI) 2:12:35 $16,000
[5] Clint Verran 29 (MI) 2:14:37 $13,000

[6] Scott Larson 35 (CO) 2:15:03 $10,000; [7] Josh Cox 29 (CA) 2:15:18 $7,500; [8] Peter Gilmore 27 (CA) 2:15:44 $7,000; [9] Jason Lehmkuhle 27 (MN) 2:16:27 $6,000; [10] Keith Dowling 35 (VA) 2:16:50 $5,000; [11] Kevin Collins 33 (NY) 2:17:00 $4,000; [12] Brian Sell 26 (MI) 2:17:20 $3,000; [13] Fred Kieser 33 (OH) 2:17:21 $2,000; [14] Scott Strand 36 (AL) 2:17:44 $1,000; [15] Steven Moreno 27 (CA) 2:17:48, [16] Corey Creasey 25 (CA) 2:17:58, [17] Scott Nicholas 31 (OR) 2:18:13, [18] Conor Holt 32 (OK) 2:18:17, [19] Chris Banks 26 (VA) 2:18:56, [20] Ryan Meissen 26 (WI) 2:19:02, [21] Scott Goff 28 (CO) 2:19:11, [22] Ryan Shay 25 (MI) 2:19:20, [23] Matt Sandercock 35 (PA) 2:20:23, [24] Carl Rundell 36 (MI) 2:21:08, [25] John Dimoff 33 (OR) 2:21:12, [33] Micahel Wardian 30 (VA) 2:22:39, [DQ] Eddy Hellebuyck 43 (NM) 2:15:36 • under 2:25—43 • 50th—2:26:15 • under 2:30—58 • DNF—15.

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2000 - Sunday, May 7: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Time standard = 2:20:00 (A), 2:22:00 (B)
114 qualifiers, 99 starters, 78 finishers
Prize money = $225,000
Host Olympic City: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

With temperatures at 65F at the start of the race, and 80F+ by the finish, this was neither going to be a fast race, nor representative of the weather conditions for Sydney, which begged the question of the venue and date of the Trials race. Jerry Lawson, who would place 75th, set the early pace, and the first break came from de la Cerda, and the former Belgian, Hellebuyck. Just after halfway de la Cerda went clear and by 18-miles was 200m clear. DeHaven, who had started carefully, gradually broke down the lead, went ahead just after 23-miles and won comfortably with the Olympic “B” time standard, making him the sole representative for the U.S. in the Olympic Marathon in Sydney. It was the only time in history the U.S. did not field a full team, and that low point helped prompt a return to a club system that would produce two U.S. Olympic Marathon medalists just four years later.

[1] Rod DeHaven 33 (WI) 2:15:30 $75,000
[2] Peter de la Cerda 28 (CO) 2:16:18 $25,000
[3] Mark Coogan 34 (MD) 2:17:04 $20,000
[4] Scott Larson 30 (CO) 2:17:15 $17,500
[5] Eddy Hellebuyck 39 (NM) 2:18:30 $15,000

[6] Dave Scudamore 30 (CA) 2:18:38 $10,000; [7] Gary Stolz 28 (CA) 2:18:46 $9,000; [8] Jeff Campbell 28 (CO) 2:19:18 $8,000; [9] Danny Martinez 38 (CA) 2:19:38 $7,000; [10] Teddy Mitchell 28 (CO) 2:20:33 $6,000; [11] Clint Verran 34 (MI) 2:20:45 $5,500; [12] Kelly Mortenson 28 (CO) 2:20:55 $5,000; [13] Craig Lawson 29 (UT) 2:21:01 $4,500; [14] Fred Kieser 29 (OH) 2:21:12 $4,000; [15] Mike Dudley 30 (CO) 2:21:27 $3,500; [16] Jon Hume 32 (CO) 2:21:53 $3,000; [17] Jeff Jacobs 35 (IL) 2:22:13 $2,500; [18] Josh Cox 24 (CA) 2:22:30 $2,000; [19] Tom Jeffrey 26 (VA) 2:22:41 $1,500; [20] Greg Wenneborg 32 (AZ) 2:22:47 $1,000; [21] Winston Alberts 29 (CO) 2:23:07, [22] Dan Mayer 28 (IL) 2:23:44, [23] Peter Hammer 33 (MA) 2:23:55, [24] Bob Masters 31 (OH) 2:24:10, [25] Weldon Johnson 26 (AZ) 2:24:55 • under 2:30—38 • 50th—2:31:57 • DNF—21.

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1996 - Saturday, February 17: Charlotte, North Carolina

Time standard = 2:20:00 (A); 2:22:00 (B)
135 qualifiers, 116 starters, 90 finishers
Prize money = $250,000
Host Olympic City: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Bob Kempainen won in spectacular fashion, taking the lead at the 18-mile mark, kicking in mile splits of 4:46 and 4:50 from that point. Kempainen’s kick broke up the pack, leaving a small enclave, consisting of Brantly, Coogan, Dowling and Plasencia to get back on terms. Coogan and Brantly caught Kempainen at 20-miles, but he surged uphill over the next mile (5:02) and created a 100m gap. With 2-miles to go Kempainen began to vomit the drink he had taken onboard at 22-miles. After six technicolor yawns, Kempainen gathered himself and incredibly increased his lead. Despite his distress, he ran the 23rd and 24th miles in 4:42 and 4:33 respectively which finally broke Coogan and Brantly. “This guy is the toughest human being on the face of the earth,” Keith Brantly said afterward. “I would have started crying and stopped.” Kempainen's gutsy effort earned him another trip to the Olympics, a record first place marathon prize ($100,000), a course record and his first marathon win in seven attempts. Under cool conditions on a challenging course, nine runners set personal records (Coogan, Ochoa, Keith Dowling, Jon Warren, David Morris, Terrence Mahon, Craig Woshner, Tom Redding and Steve Wilson).

[1] Bob Kempainen (MN) 2:12:45 $100,000
[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

[6] Keith Dowling (NM) 2:14:30 $10,000; [7] Dan Held (WI) 2:14:53 $9,000; [8] Jon Warren (TX) 2:15:59 $7,000; [9] Jeff Jacobs (IL) 2:16:13 $5,000; [10] David Morris (NM) 2:16:20 $4,000; [11] Terrence Mahon (PA) 2:16:28 $3,000; [12] Darrell General (MD) 2:16:30 $2,500; [13] Ashley Johnson (AZ) 2:16:39 $2,000; [14] Craig Woshner (VA) 2:16:41 $1,500; [15] Ed Eyestone (UT) 2:16:51 $1,000; [16] Budd Coates (PA) 2:17:26, [17] Jose Iniguez (TX) 2:17:42, [18] Kevin Collins (NY) 2:17:51, [19] Dennis Simonaitis (UT) 2:17:57, [20] John Dimoff (OR) 2:18:06, [21] Howard Nippert (VA) 2:19:08, [22] Joe LeMay (CT) 2:19:10, [23] Tom Redding (OK) 2:19:54, [24] Steve Wilson (FL) 2:19:58, [25] Will Kimball (OR) 2:20:21.

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1992 - Saturday, April 11: Columbus, Ohio

Time standard = 2:20:00
108 qualifiers, 102 starters, 55 finishers
Prize money = $214,000
Host Olympic City: Barcelona, Spain

Under warm, windy conditions, Keith Brantly and Bill Reifsnyder broke 20 seconds clear of the field between 12 and 17 miles, and then lost all of their lead to Spence, Eyestone and Kempainen between 20 and 22 miles. By 23 miles the leading trio were 10-seconds clear of Brantly and the cramping Reifsnyder, and at 25 miles Spence strode away from Eyestone, a 1988 Olympic Marathoner, confirming the form which had taken him to world championship bronze the previous summer. Spence found himself $58,000 richer with his win, while second and third pocketed $48,000 and $38,000 respectively. The trio went on to place 12-13-15 in the Olympics in the same order as their trials finish.

[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

[6] Steve Taylor (VA) 2:16:14 $8,000; [7] Chris Fox (MD) 2:16:40 $7,000; [8] Jim Hage (DC) 2:16:47 $6,000; [9] Danny Gonzalez (CO) 2:17:53 $5,000; [10] Mark Conover (CA) 2:18:17 $4,000; [11] Joe Leuchtmann (MO) 2:19:01 $3,000; [12] Don Johns (MI) 2:19:05 $2,500; [13] Dan Held (WI) 2:19:23 $2,000; [14] Chad Bennion (UT) 2:19:25 $1,750; [15] Chris Prior (CO) 2:19:26 $1,500; [16] Paul McGovern (MA) 2:19:35 $1,250; [17] Tom Stevens (MD) 2:19:41 $1,000; [18] Scott Bagley (NY) 2:21:05 $800; [19] Matt Ebiner (CA) 2:21:13 $700; [20] Dave Dunham (NH) 2:21:18 $500.

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1988 - Sunday, April 24: Jersey City, New Jersey

Time standard=2:20:00
132 qualifiers, 115 starters, 77 finishers
Prize money = $150,000
Host Olympic City: Seoul, South Korea

Conover broke clear of the field in a tactical race at the 18-mile mark, and only Ed Eyestone was able to stay within half a minute of the 27 year-old Californian. Prize money was awarded for the first time with Conover winning $50,000 for taking first place, and Eyestone taking $25,000 for second. Third place ($20,000) went to 1984 team member Pfitzinger, who passed Paul Gompers with 3-miles to go. Mark Conover’s win was a major upset, in a personal best of more than six minutes. “It was just one of those days,” he told Amby Burfoot for Runner’s World in 2007. “I never had another one like it. I felt like I was out on one of my relaxed Sunday long runs. Every time I did a body check, the report came back, ‘All systems go.’ Ed and I broke away from the pack on a hill just past 16 miles, and we helped each other the rest of the way.”

[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

[6] Don Norman (PA) 2:15:49 $8,000; [7] Bob Hodge (MA) 2:16:56 $6,000; [8] Greg Meyer (MA) 2:17:40 $4,500; [9] Steve Spence (PA) 2:17:49 $3,000; [10] Herb Wills (FL) 2:17:52 $2,000, [11] Randy Thomas (MA) 2:18:10 $1,500; [12] Chris Prior (OR) 2:18:34 $1,000; [13] Ken Judson (PA) 2:18:38 $900; [14] Brad Ingram (OH) 2:18:45 $800; [15] Bill Weidenbach (WA) 2:19:21 $700; [16] Danny Grimes (CA) 2:19:34 $600; [17] Paul Pilkington (UT) 2:19:39 $400; [18] Tom Ratcliffe (MA) 2:20:22 $300; [19] Darrell General (MD) 2:20:31 $200;
[20] Ron Gee (CA) 2:20:58 $100.

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1984 - Saturday, May 26: Buffalo, New York

60th USA Men’s Championship – 5th U.S. Men’s Olympic Marathon Trials
Time standard = 2:19:04
201 qualifiers, 172 starters, 108 finishers
Host Olympic City: Los Angeles, California, United States

Pete Pfitzinger was a relatively unknown, and definitely unfancied runner, at the start of the 1984 Olympic Trials Marathon, despite having won on the same course in 1981. The event was held in warm conditions, with head winds of 15mph on much of the course. Pfitzinger drew clear of the field at halfway, and he built up a 150m lead, which disappeared by 21-miles. Tuttle and Salazar went away from Pfitzinger in the last mile, but he came back and outkicked Salazar in the last meters. Pfitzinger went on to place a respectable 11th as the top American in the Olympic race in Los Angeles in 2:13:53.

[1] Pete Pfitzinger (NY) 2:11:43
[2] Alberto Salazar (OR) 2:11:44
[3] John Tuttle (GA) 2:11:50
[4] Dave Gordon (OR) 2:11:59
[5] Dean Matthews (OR) 2:12:25

[6] Tony Sandoval (NM) 2:12:41, [7] Greg Meyer (MA) 2:13:29, [8] Bill Rodgers (MA) 2:13:30, [9] Sal Vega (NM) 2:14:18, [10] Tom Raunig (MT) 2:16:02, [11] Duncan MacDonald (HI) 2:16:56, [12] David Hinz 2:17:18,
[13] Doug Avrit 2:17:45, [14] Bill Weidenbach (WA) 2:17:45, [15] Herb Wills (FL) 2:17:54.

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1980 - Saturday, May 24: Buffalo, New York

Time standard = 2:21:54
269 qualifiers, 192 starters, 125 finishers
Host Olympic City: Moscow, Soviet Union

Gary Fanelli set the pace, and ensured a fast race in the damp and mild (60-65F) conditions, passing halfway in 1:04:39. No one made a big move until Durden kicked at the 18-mile mark. By 22-miles he was 75-yards clear, but Sandoval caught him at 24-miles, and then went away. Sandoval, who had finished 4th in the 1976 trials, thus won what was probably the first peak of American domestic marathoning. He recorded a Trials and U.S. record. With 24 men under 2:17, the event had developed a long way through the 1970’s, primarily because of the success of Frank Shorter (who finished 85th here in 2:23:24). Because of the 1980 Olympic boycott by the U.S., the team did not compete in Moscow.

[1] Tony Sandoval (NM) 2:10:19
[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

[6] Kevin McCarey (OR) 2:13:17, [7] Randy Thomas (MA) 2:13:40, [8] Gordon Minty (MI) 2:13:53, [9] Frank Richardson (IA) 2:14:17, [10] Dennis Rinde (CA) 2:14:22, [11] Walt Saeger (OH) 2:14:38, [12] Dave Smith (CA) 2:14:48, [13] David Patterson (PA) 2:15:09, [14] Chuck Hattersley (CO) 2:15:30, [15] Jeff Foster (PA) 2:15:56, [16] Dick Beardsley (MN) 2:16:01, [17] John Dimick (VT) 2:16:08, [18] Kim Burke (PA) 2:16:10, [19] John Vitale (CT) 2:16:22, [20] Ted Castaneda (CO) 2:16:38, [21] Mike Pinocci (NV) 2:16:46, [22] Gary Fanelli (PA) 2:16:49, [23] Chuck Smead (CA) 2:16:58, [24] Cliff Karthauser (NE) 2:16:58, [25] Bill Glad (WA) 2:17:23, [26] John Miley (OK) 2:17:23, [27] Roy Kulikowski (SC) 2:17:26, [28] Bruce Robinson (MD) 2:17:30, [29] David Miley (OK) 2:17:40, [30] Rick Callison (OH) 2:17:42 • 50th place - 2:19:36 • 56 men under 2:20 • 97th at 2:25:52.

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1976 - Saturday, May 22: Eugene, Oregon

Time standard = 2:23:00
87 qualifiers, 77 starters, 49 finishers
Host Olympic City: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Shorter and Rodgers, the two best American marathoners of their era, had broken 1-1/2 minutes clear of eventual non-finisher Barry Brown by 20-miles, reached in 1:39:32 after 5-mile splits of 24:41/24:54/24:51/24:56 . The two of them eventually were clear by over 2-minutes, with Shorter getting away from Rodgers in the last mile. Behind them, tall Don Kardong had run a cautious race alongside Tony Sandoval, and only moved into third with 4-miles to go. By then the field was suffering, and Kardong finished a minute ahead of Sandoval. In Montreal Shorter was to place second in 2:10:46, but the real surprises were Rodgers, whose legs gave way, leaving him in 40th place, and Kardong who ran a superb race, finishing an unheralded 4th in 2:11:16, missing a medal by just four seconds. Frank Shorter is still the only man to win two Olympic Marathon Trials.

[1] Frank Shorter (FL) 2:11:51
[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

[6] Bob Varsha (GA) 2:15:50, [7] John Bramley (CT) 2:17:16, [8] Kirk Pfeffer (CA) 2:17:58, [9] Jeff Galloway (GA) 2:18:29, [10] Amby Burfoot (CT) 2:18:56, [11] Bob Busby (MO) 2:19:05, [12] Carl Hatfield (WV) 2:19:18, [13] Marty Sudzina (PA) 2:19:55, [14] Perry Forrester (CA) 2:20:01, [15] Ron Kurrle (CA) 2:20:18.

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1972 - Sunday, July 9: Eugene, Oregon

Time standard = 2:30:00
100 starters, 66 finishers
Host Olympic City: Munich, West Germany

Frank Shorter and Kenny Moore intentionally tied after building a big lead together early. “We didn’t have any discussion about tying. We didn’t need to. It was part of our friendship, our trust in each other,” Shorter told Amby Burfoot for a Runner’s World story in 2007. Moore and Shorter led a pack of eight other runners who paid for their temerity. Of them, only Mark Covert was able to finish, and by then he was down in 7th place. Bacheler and Galloway started cautiously, and finished in isolation in 3rd and 4th places. Like Moore and Shorter they entered the stadium together, but under instructions (from Shorter) Galloway, who was already qualified for Munich in the 10,000m, let Bacheler ahead for the third team spot. The ability of Moore and Shorter to deal with the heat became clear only in Munich, where Shorter dominated the field leading for the last 3/4 of the race to win by more than 2-minutesin 2:12:19, the first American to win since 1908. Moore was a splendid 4th in 2:15:39, just half a minute behind 1968 Olympic champion Mamo Wolde, and Bacheler placed 9th in 2:17:38.

[1] Kenny Moore (OR) 2:15:58 [tie]
[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

[6] Don Kardong (CA) 2:22:42, [7] Mark Covert (CA) 2:23:35, [8] Tom Hoffman (WI) 2:23:45, [9] Norm Higgins (CT) 2:24:08, [10] Skip Houk (NV) 2:24:41.

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1968 - Sunday, August 18: Alamosa, Colorado

No time standard
129 Entrants, 113 starters, 63 finishers, at altitude
5.2-mile loop 5 times, plus 385 yards
Host Olympic City: Mexico City, Mexico

Rather than a series of races, the 1968 team was determined by just one race; just as well, as it is doubtful if the athletes’ health would have been served by a series of races at altitude. Young and Moore were the class of the field; for Young it was his debut race, while Moore was having his first outing over the distance for three years. Moore later became an occasional actor, but is better known for his memorable writing on track for Sports Illustrated. Ron Daws won the race for third, with just eight seconds separating third from fifth. Less than half of the 129 entrants finished. All three Americans finished in Mexico City, a feat in itself, with Moore placing 14th in 2:29:49 after suffering massive blisters, two places ahead of Young.

[1] George Young (AZ) 2:30:48
[2] Kenny Moore (OR) 2:31:47
[3] Ron Daws (MN) 2:33:09
[4] Bob Deines (CA) 2:33:13
[5] Steve Matthews (CO) 2:33:17

[6] Ed Winrow (NY) 2:34:51, [7] Nick Kitt (CA) 2:35:09, [8] Doug Wiebe (CA) 2:35:31, [9] Bill Clark (CA) 2:36:14, [10] Jeff Reneau (NH) 2:38:46.

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Women’s Race History

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2020 - Saturday, February 29: Atlanta, Georgia

Time standard = 2:37:00 (A) 2:45:00 (B)
Also (B): half-marathon = 1:13:00
510 qualifiers, 449 starters, 390 finishers
Prize money = $240,000
Viewing Party: HERE
Kevin Morris Photos: HERE
Host Olympic City: Tokyo, Japan

[1] Aliphine Tuliamuk 30 (AZ) 2:27:23 $80,000
[2] Molly Seidel 25 (MA) 2:27:31 $65,000
[3] Sally Kipyego 34 (OR) 2:28:52 $55,000
[4] Des Linden 36 (MI) 2:29:03 $20,000
[5] Laura Thweatt 31 (CO) 2:29:08 $10,000

[6] Steph Bruce 36 (AZ) 2:29:11 $6,000; [7] Emma Bates 27 (ID) 2:29:35 $3,000; [8] Kellyn Taylor 33 (AZ) 2:29:55 $1,000; [9] Nell Rojas 32 (CO) 2:30:26, [10] Julia Kohnen 27 (MO) 2:30:43, [11] Sarah Sellers 28 (AZ) 2:31:48, [12] Lindsay Flanagan 29 (CO) 2:32:05, [13] Brittany Charboneau 31 (CO) 2:33:14, [14] Kate Landau 43 (WA) 2:34:07, [15] Keira D'Amato 35 (VA) 2:34:24, [16] Becky Wade 31 (CO) 2:35:12, [17] Jenny Bergman 28 (CO) 2:36:11, [18] Bethany Sachtleben 28 (VA) 2:36:34, [19] Jaci Smith 23 (CO) 2:36:34, [20] Carrie Dimoff 36 (OR) 2:36:41, [21] Kelsey Bruce 27 (TX) 2:36:51, [22] Kaitlyn Peale 30 (OR) 2:37:12, [23] Christina Vergara Aleshire 38 (NV) 2:37:20, [24] Lauren Weaver 34 (TN) 2:37:48, [25] Molly Grabill 27 (CO) 2:37:57, [94] Amanda Nurse 32 (MA/ME) 2:43:35, [197] Devon Yanko 37 (CA) 2:48:42, [356] Sarah Mulcahy 34 (ME) 3:01:04 • under 2:44—121 • DNF—59.

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2016 - Saturday, February 13: Los Angeles, California

An initial 2.2-mile loop and then four 6-mile loops
Time standard = 2:37:00 (A) 2:45:00 (B)
Also (B): half-marathon = 1:15:00
246 qualifiers, 198 starters, 149 finishers
Prize money = $300,000 (largest in Trials history)
Viewing Party: HERE
Kevin Morris Photos: HERE
Host Olympic City: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Breaking away early, training partners Shalane Flanagan and Amy Cragg ran together for 24 miles, the last several of which consisted largely of Cragg encouraging her heat-stricken partner forward. Flanagan hung on to finish third after being passed in the last mile by a disciplined Des Linden, who at Mile 21 was 1:02 behind the duo. The three would all go on to finish in the top 10 in Rio, the best ever for U.S. women.

[1] Amy Cragg (OR) 2:28:20 $80,000
[2] Des Linden (MI) 2:28:54 $65,000
[3] Shalane Flanagan (OR) 2:29:19 $55,000
[4] Kara Goucher (CO) 2:30:24 $25,000
[5] Janet Bawcom (AZ) 2:31:14 $20,000

[6] Kellyn Taylor (AZ) 2:32:50 $15,000; [7] Maegan Krifchin (MD) 2:33:28 $13,000; [8] Serena Burla (VA) 2:34:22 $11,000; [9] Katja Goldring (CA) 2:35:21 $9,000; [10] Alia Gray (CA) 2:35:47 $7,000; [11] Esther Atkins (NC) 2:37:56, [12] Adriana Nelson (CA) 2:38:56, [13] Lenore Moreno (CA) 2:39:38, [14] Lindsay Flanagan (MD) 2:39:42, [15] Melissa White (MI) 2:39:57, [16] Heather Lieberg (MT) 2:40:36, [17] Wendy Thomas (CO) 2:40:39, [18] Erin Osment (NC) 2:40:42, [19] Erin Vergara (IN) 2:41:10, [20] Susanna Sullivan (VA) 2:41:18, [21] Katie Dicamillo (RI) 2:42:01, [22] Allison Macsas (TX) 2:42:36, [23] Cynthia Fowler (UT) 2:42:41, [24] Keely Maguire (NH) 2:43:06, [25] Laura Hagley (NH) 2:43:11, [67] Amanda Nurse (MA) 2:49:15, [99] Erica Jesseman (ME) 2:54:32, [115] Sheri Piers (ME) 2:58:30, [122] Leah Frost (VT) 3:00:23 • under 3:00—120 • DNF—49.

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2012 - Saturday, January 14: Houston, Texas

Time standard = 2:39:00 (A); 2:46:00 (B)
Also (B) Half Marathon = 1:15:00 and 10,000m (track) = 33:00.00
225 qualifiers, 183 starters, 152 finishers
Prize money = $260,500
Kevin Morris Photos: HERE
Host Olympic City: London, United Kingdom

Five women finished under 2:30 in the Trials for the first time, with Shalane Flanagan setting a Trials record to make her first marathon team after trips to the Olympics at 5000 meters (2004 and 2008) and Olympic silver at 10,000 meters in 2008.

[1] Shalane Flanagan 30 (OR) 2:25:38* $74,000 [Trials record]
[2] Desiree Davila 28 (MI) 2:25:55 $63,000
[3] Kara Goucher 33 (OR) 2:26:06 $52,000
[4] Amy Hastings 27 (CA) 2:27:17 $21,000
[5] Janet Cherobon-Bawcom 33 (GA) 2:29:45 $15,500

[6] Deena Kastor 38 (CA) 2:30:40 $10,000; [7] Clara Grandt 24 (WV) 2:30:46 $8,000; [8] Alissa McKaig 25 (NC) 2:31:56 $7,000; [9] Dot McMahan 35 (MI), 2:32:16 $6,000; [10] Magdaleny Lewy Boulet 38 (CA) 2:33:42 $4,000; [11] Katie McGregor 34 (MN) 2:34:01, [12] Wendy Thomas 32 (CO) 2:34:25, [13] Melissa White 30 (MI) 2:34:33; [14] Alisha Williams 29 (CO) 2:35:09, [15] Heidi Westover 30 (NH) 2:35:45, [16] Clara Peterson 27 (CA) 2:35:50, [17] Rebecca Donaghue 35 (PA) 2:35:57, [18] Katherine Newberry 33 (MI) 2:36:21, [19] Brooke Wells 26 (CA) 2:36:24, [20] Loretta Kilmer 28 (NY) 2:36:41, [21] Jeannette Faber 29 (OR) 2:36:50, [22] Michelle Frey 29 (MN) 2:37:03, [23] Erin Nehus 30 (IN) 2:37:06, [24] Sheri Piers 40 (ME) 2:37:09, [25] Kelly Calway 27 (CO) 2:37:10, [26] Camille Herron 30 (OK) 2:37:14, [55] Leah Thorvilson 33 (AR) 2:42:09, [83] Kristin Barry 38 (ME) 2:45:43, [88] Erica Jesseman 22 (ME) 2:46:11 • under 2:40—41 • 50th—2:41:06 • 100th—2:47:21 • DNF—31.

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2008 - Sunday, April 20: Boston, Massachusetts

Time standard = 2:39:00 (A), 2:47:00 (B)
Also, (B) for 10,000m (track) = 33:00:00
181 qualifiers, 146 starters, 124 finishers
Prize money = $250,000
Kevin Morris Photos: HERE
Host Olympic City: Beijing, China

On a near-perfect race morning in downtown Boston and along the Cambridge embankment of the Charles River, Deena Kastor, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, and Blake Russell made the USA Olympic Marathon team that will be competing in the Beijing Games. The race developed much as expected, but also very differently. Like past Women's Marathon Trials, there were many surprises, disappointments, and emotional high points. In the latter category, Joan Samuelson again covered herself in glory in a Marathon Trials that was almost but not quite a Boston Marathon. In what she has been terming her last competitive marathon, Samuelson finished in 2:49:08, achieving her goal of a sub-2:50 at age 50 and setting a new American record for women over 50. Kastor won the competition she was expected to win four years earlier in St. Louis, but couldn't. At the 2004 Trials, she finished second to Colleen DeReuck. In 2008, she trailed Lewy Boulet by a wide margin at midrace, but closed strongly to break the tape in 2:29:35. Lewy Boulet, fifth in St. Louis, held on impressively to place second in 2:30:19. And Russell, the fourth-place bridesmaid in 2004, fought off the demons of a possible repeat fourth to take third in 2:32:40.

[1] Deena Kastor 35 (CA) 2:29:35 $60,000
[2] Magdalena Lewy Boulet 34 (CA) 2:30:19 $50,000
[3] Blake Russell 32 (CA) 2:32:40 $40,000
[4] Zoila Gomez 28 (CO) 2:33:53 $20,000
[5] Tera Moody 27 (CO) 2:33:54 $15,000

[6] Turena Johnson Lane 32 (LA) 2:34:17 $12,000; [7] Ann Alyanak 29 (OH) 2:34:46 $10,000; [8] Dot McMahan 31 (MI) 2:35:02 $9,000; [9] Robyn Friedman 35 (IA) 2:35:02 $8,000; [10] Erin Moeller 30 (IA) 2:36:51 $7,000; [11] Kasie Enman 28 (VT) 2:37:14 $6,000; [12] Megan Hepp 26 (NC) 2:37:29 $5,000; [13] Desiree Davila 24 (MI) 2:37:50 $4,000; [14] Melissa White 26 (MI) 2:37:53 $2,500; [15] Veena Reddy 29 (PA) 2:38:08 $1,500; [16] Sheri Piers 36 (ME) 2:38:46, [17] Linda Somers Smith 46 (CA) 2:38:49, [18] Samia Akbar 26 (VA) 2:39:19, [19] Mary Akor 31 (CA) 2:39:34, [20] Sally Meyerhoff 24 (AZ) 2:39:39, [21] Caroline Cretti 23 (NC) 2:40:12, [22] Sopanga Eap 27 (OR) 2:40:19, [23] Caitlin Tormey 24 (NC) 2:40:29, [24] Casey Smith 28 (VA) 2:40:53, [25] Rachel Kinsman 34 (OH) 2:41:07, [67] Emily Levan 35 (ME) 2:45:45, [73] Kristin Barry 34 (ME) 2:46:58, [76] Camille Herron 26 (IN) 2:47:14, [85] Michelle Lilienthal 26 (MN) 2:48:46, [90] Joan Samuelson 50 (ME) 2:49:08 • 50th—2:44:10 • under 2:50—98 DNF—22.

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2004 - Saturday, April 3: St. Louis, Missouri

Time standard = 2:39:59 (A), 2:48:00 (B)
151 qualifiers, 121 starters, 106 finishers, 1 DQ
Prize money = $250,000
Host Olympic City: Athens, Greece

Blake Russell l headed straight to the front, and within 3-miles (15:59) had built up a margin of 55-seconds. Kastor was leading the pack, and was just under a minute behind Russell at 10k (33:33). Little changed by halfway, with Russell clocking 1:11:58, and Kastor 53-seconds behind. From 14 miles on, Kastor gulped up Russell’s lead, closing from 40-seconds back at that point to 9-seconds in arrears at 17-miles. Kastor went ahead in the 18th mile and by mile 20 (1:51:17—2:25:30 pace) was well clear. Russell stopped briefly in the 21st mile and was passed by 39 year-old de Reuck. The South African born de Reuck closed Kastor down as they ran up a big hill during the 25th mile. de Reuck finished carrying an American flag, with more than a minute to spare over Kastor. Russell was passed in the last mile and beaten for 3rd by Jen Rhines, who finished less than 20-seconds behind Kastor in an 11-minute PR. Kastor went on to win bronze in the Olympics. Bev Docherty of St. Paul, Minnesota became the first six-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials finisher with her 2:52:21.

[1] Colleen De Reuck 39 (CO) 2:28:25 $45,000
[2] Deena Kastor 31 (CA) 2:29:38 $40,000
[3] Jen Rhines 29 (CA) 2:29:57 $35,000
[4] Blake Russell 28 (MA) 2:30:32 $18,000
[5] Magdalena Lewy Boulet 30 (CA) 2:30:50 $16,000

[6] Heather Hanscom 26 (VA) 2:31:53 $14,000; [7] Sara Wells 25 (MN) 2:33:15 $13,000; [8] Susannah Beck 35 (CAN/Yarmouth-ME) 2:34:44 $12,000; [9] Jenny Spangler 40 (IL) 2:36:30 $11,000; [10] Linda Somers Smith 42 (CA) 2:37:28 $10,000; [11] Jenny Crain 36 (OR) 2:37:36 $7,500; [12] Cori Mooney 30 (ID) 2:37:49 $6,500; [13] Liz Wilson 35 (OR) 2:38:18 $5,500; [14] Lori Stich Zimmerman 33 (TX) 2:38:44 $4,500; [15] Beth Old 29 (GA) 2:40:14 $3,500; [16] Nicole Kulikov28 (CO) 2:40:28 $2,500; [17] Mary Akor 27 (CA) 2:40:37 $2,000; [18] Nicole Hunt 33 (MT) 2:40:39 $1,750; [19] Turena Johnson Lane 28 (GA) 2:40:58 $1,250; [20] Kelly Flathers 32 (CA) 2:41:16 $1,000; [21] Jennifer Derego 24 (CA) 2:41:50, [22] Christine Lundy 33 (CA) 2:41:55, [23] Deirdre Brill 26 (PA) 2:41:57, [24] Christina Wells 29 (VA) 2:42:01, [25] Monica Hostetler 27 (MI) 2:42:20, [41] Zika Palmer 28 (NC) 2:46:21, [DQ] Deeja Youngquist (NM) 2:34:21 • under 2:45—33 • 100th—3:05:02 • DNF—15.

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2000 - Saturday, February 26: Columbia, South Carolina

Time standard = 2:42:00 (A), 2:50:00 (B)
210 qualifiers, 170 starters, 141 finishers
Prize money = $230,000
Host Olympic City: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The 1996 season had seen 50 run 2:46:17, a time which 27 would manage this time. Rather than a deterioration in standards, this was more due to the unseasonably warm weather, which saw the temperature at the start of 50F increase all the way up to 86F. Not too surprisingly the Olympic “A” standard of 2:33 would remain unreachable. Anne Marie Lauck took the lead after 5km and went clear, passing halfway in 1:15:30, but she began to suffer just before 20-miles, which was when 37 year-old Chris Clark caught her. If Jenny Spangler was considered to be little known in 1996, Christine Clark was a total stranger in 2000. A 37-year-old pathologist from Alaska and the 22nd fastest qualifier, she had done most of her training on a treadmill, and had finished 76th in the 1996 Trials. Clark, who had trained specifically for warmer conditions, steadily drew away and won by nearly 2 ½-minutes from Kristy Johnson. Lauck managed to hold on for third place. “My expectations were top 20, and a great day would be top 10. Winning I never thought about. I stayed focused on what I needed to do. I never thought I'd run this fast. The crowd was unbelievable the whole way. I'm in shock.” As with the men that year, only the top woman, Clark, met the Olympic “B” time standard, good for one team spot at the Sydney Games, where finished 19th there with a new PR of 2:31:35.

[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/Yarmouth-ME) 2:36:46 $18,000
[5] Liz Wilson (OR) 2:37:27 $16,000

[6] Ann Schaefers-Coles (IL) 2:38:47 $14,000; [7] Kim Pawelek (FL) 2:39:16 $13,000; [8] Libbie Hickman (CO) 2:39:57 $12,000; [9] Joan Samuelson (ME) 2:39:59 $11,000; [10] Jennifer Tonkin (WA) 2:40:31 $10,000 [11] Jacquie Merritt (PA) 2:41:44 $7,500; [12] Maria Trujillo de Rios (CA) 2:42:10 $6,500; [13] Christine McNamara (CO) 2:42:12 $5,500; [14] Jenny Crain (WI) 2:42:12 $4,500; [15] Rachel Hopkins Cook (GA) 2:43:12 $3,500; [16] Rosa Gutierrez (CA) 2:43:33 $2,500; [17] Kelly Keeler (MN) 2:43:33 $2,000; [18] Michelle LaFleur (GA) 2:43:36 $1,750; [19] Tamara Lave (CA) 2:43:38 $1,250; [20] Kim Kauls (MN) 2:43:52 $1,000; [21] Mary Kniseley (IL) 2:45:18, [22] Rosemarie Lagunas (CA) 2:45:24, [23] Julia Kirtland (ME) 2:45:28, [24] Laura LaMena-Coll (OR) 2:45:34, [25] Bonnie McReynolds (WA) 2:45:47 • under 2:50—44 • 50th—2:51:06 • 100th—2:59:48 • DNF—29.

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1996 - Saturday, February 10: Columbia, South Carolina

Time standard = 2:42:00 (A), 2:50:00 (B)
187 qualifiers, 160 starters, 129 finishers
Prize purse = $250,000
Host Olympic City: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

30 athletes were listed in the ‘elite’ section in the Trials program, but Jenny Spangler, whose PR of 2:33:52 dated back to 1983, was not one of them. She had previously finished 49th in the 1988 Trials, and then took six years off of competitive running before quietly gearing up for another shot. Spangler first took the lead after five miles, and at halfway, only Lauck was in attendance, and she was dropped after the 16th mile, covered in 5:22 (downhill) by Spangler. At 22-miles she had a 40-second lead, and coasted to the finish with a stunning victory in 2:29:54, nearly a four-minute PR. Two-time USA marathon champion, Linda Somers finished second with a personal best of 2:30:06. Anne Marie Lauck placed third (2:31:18) to earn the final U.S. Olympic marathon team berth. Joan Samuelson, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist finished 13th.

[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

[6] Debbi Kilpatrick-Morris (OH) 2:34:52 $14,000; [7] Jeanne Peterson (NY) 2:35:19 $13,000; [8] Elaine Van Blunk (PA) 2:35:31 $12,000; [9] Lynn Nelson (CO) 2:35:34 $11,000; [10] Lisa Knoblich (CT) 2:36:05 $10,000; [11] Bonnie McReynolds (TN) 2:36:15 $7,500; [12] Jennifer Martin (PA) 2:36:26 $6,500; [13] Joan Samuelson (ME) 2:36:54 $5,500; [14] Julia Kirtland (ME) 2:37:53 $4,500; [15] Lorraine Hochella (VA) 2:38:21 $3,500; [16] Patty Valadka (TX) 2:38:35 $2,500; [17] Christine McNamara (RI) 2:38:38 $2,000; [18] Mary-Lynn Currier (MA) 2:38:39 $1,750; [19] Lisa Rainsberger (KS) 2:38:44 $1,250; [20] Gordon Bakoulis (NY) 2:39:08 $1,000 • 30th—2:41:46 • 50th—2:46:17.

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1992 - Sunday, January 26: Houston, Texas

Time standard: 2:45:00
118 qualifiers, 89 starters, 65 finishers
Prize money = $77,500
Host Olympic City: Barcelona, Spain

Janis Klecker had lost count of the number of marathons she’d run in 13 seasons of road running; certainly, it was more than 35, perhaps as many as 45. Although she had won four of her previous eight races, she was not expected to be a contender. The race was led to halfway by Maria Trujillo, and shortly after Klecker was among those who fell in a pile at the 16-mile water station. She was helped to her feet by 1988 Olympic Marathoner Cathy O’Brien, who took the lead at 20-miles and surged to a 19-second lead with 3-miles to go. Klecker dug in, and caught O’Brien at the 26-mile point and the dentist went on to win the race in 2:30:12, a PR. O’Brien, whose hamstring tightened up, followed fourteen seconds later to make her second Olympic team, while Larrieu-Smith qualified for her fourth team — 20 years after the first time she became an olympian in 1972. In 4th place, for the third time running, was the luckless Lisa Weidenbach.

[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 $5000
[5] Christine McNamara (CO) 2:34:35 $4000

[6] Joy Smith (TX) 2:35:09 $3,000; [7] Maria Trujillo (CA) 2:35:10 $2,000; [8] Gordon Bloch (NY) 2:35:30 $1,500; [9] Jane Welzel (CO) 2:35:55 $1,000; [10] Janice Ettle (MN) 2:36:49 $1,000; [11] Lorraine Hochella (VA) 2:37:08, [12] Debbi Kilpatrick-Morris (OH) 2:39:07, [13] Julie Peterson (MA) 2:39:10, [14] Jennifer Martin (PA) 2:39:20, [15] Julie Isphording (OH) 2:39:47, [16] Linda Somers (CA) 2:39:50, [17] Mary Level-Menton (FL) 2:39:58, [18] Marie Boyd (NM) 2:40:27, [19] Lisa Knoblich (OR) 2:41:25, [20] Ruth Vomund (CA) 2:41:30 • 17 under 2:40 • 46 under 2:50.

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1988 - Sunday, May 1: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Time standard = 2:50:00
246 qualifiers, 204 starters, 159 finishers
Prize money = $157,500
Host Olympic City: Seoul, South Korea

Sylvia Mosqueda set the pace, passing 10k in 33:49 (2:22:30 pace) more than a minute and a half infront of the pack. The leading group, which passed halfway in1:14:51 caught Mosqueda at 17 miles and stayed together until 22 miles, when Groos went away. Ditz staved off attempted surges by O’Brien to finish second ahead of the 20 year-old — the youngest runner in the field, as she had been in 1984 when placing 9th. Weidenbach placed 4th, as she had (as Lisa Larsen) in 1984; in fact five of the first ten from 1984 repeated here: Groos 5th/1st, Isphording (3rd/9th), Ditz (7th/2nd), Weidenbach and O’Brien. Cathy O’Brien is still the youngest woman to make a U.S. Olympic Marathon team.

[1] Margaret Groos (FL) 2:29:50 $25,000
[2] Nancy Ditz (CA) 2:30:14 $25,000
[3] Cathy O’Brien (NH) 2:30:18 $25,000
[4] Lisa Weidenbach (MI) 2:31:06 $15,000
[5] Kim Jones (WA) 2:32:16 $10,000

[6] Debbie Raunig (MT) 2:32:36 $9,000; [7] Maureen Custy-Roben (CO) 2:33:19 $8,000; [8] Lynn Nelson (AZ) 2:33:31 $7,000; [9] Julie Isphording (OH) 2:33:46 $6,000; [10] Susan Marchiano (NV) 2:34:26 $5,000; [11] Laurie Crisp (CA) 2:35:23 $4,000; [12] Teresa Ornduff (VA) 2:35:37 $3,000; [13] Jane Welzel (MA) 2:36:08 $2,500; [14] Jennifer Colgrove (PA) 2:37:03 $2,000; [15] Leatrice Hayer (MA) 2:37:13 $1,500; [16] Maria Trujillo (CA) 2:37:28 $1,400; [17] Gordon Bakoulis (NY) 2:37:44 $1,300; [18] Doreen Ennis-Schwartz (NJ) 2:37:54 $1,200; [19] Mary Alico (OR) 2:38:13 $1,100; [20] Janice Ettle (MN) 2:38:42 $1,000; [21] Cindi Girard-Klein (NJ) 2:39:01 $750; [22] Sue Jackson (TX) 2:39:30 $750; [23] Kristi Martin (MN) 2:39:56 $750; [24] Mary Lammi (MA) 2:40:16 $750; [25] Nancy Corsaro (MA) 2:40:27 $500 • 23 under 2:40 • 81 under 2:50 • 138 under 3:00.

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1984 - Sunday, May 12: Olympia, Washington

Time standard = 2:51:16
267 qualifiers, 238 starters, 196 finishers
Host Olympic City: Los Angeles, California, United States

Joan Benoit, as the holder of the world’s best for the event (2:22:43 at Boston in 1983), was the hot favorite, but even she was a little surprised to find hers elf leading after only 1.25-miles, particularly after she had surgery on her right knee 2.5-weeks earlier. Sharing the lead with Betty Springs, Benoit passed 12 miles in 1:07:12 with Lisa Larsen a quarter of a minute back, and Julie Brown another 18 seconds in arrears. By halfway Benoit had broken Springs, and she maintained her advantage over Brown all the way to the finish. Brown showed her remarkable versatility in making the marathon team, after qualifying for the 800/1500 squads in 1980. Larsen stayed in third until the 25th mile, when she was caught by Isphording, who had been 45th quickest of the entrants. Benoit went on to become the first womens’ Olympic marathon winner in a time of 2:24:52 — superb running in the 80F heat of Los Angeles. The following year she ran 2:21:06, a world’s best for more than a decade.

[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

[6] Janice Ettle (MN) 2:33:41, [7] Nancy Ditz (CA) 2:33:52, [8] Martha White (PA) 2:34:09, [9] Cathy Schiro (NH) 2:34:24, [10] Sue King (AL) 2:34:29, [11] Ellen Hart (CO) 2:35:04, [12] Carol Urish-McLatchie (TX) 2:35:09, [13] Martha Cooksey (OR) 2:35:42, [14] Jane Welzel (MA) 2:35:53, [15] Debbie Eide (OR) 2:36:06, [16] Patti Catalano (MA) 2:36:13, [17] Debby Mueller (MA) 2:36:14, [18] Beth Farmer (FL) 2:36:22, [19] Fordie Madeira (MA) 2:36:35, [20] Sarah Quinn (NY) 2:36:54 • 31 under 2:40 • 50th—2:43:01 • 100th—2:49:16 • 108 under 2:50 • 150th—2:54:33 • 164 under 3:00.

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SOURCES

The content for this page was compiled from multiple sources, including:

Atlanta Track Club [1,2,3]; Flotrack.org [1,2,3]; Houston Marathon Committee [1,2]; LetsRun.com [1,2,3,4]; MarathonGuide.com [1]; Running USA [1], Runner’s World Magazine [1,2]; RunnerSpace.com [1]; Track Shack [1,2]; United States Track & Field [1,2]; Wikipedia.org [1]; and ‘The History of the United States Olympic Trials—Track & Field’ by Richard Hymans, ATFS [1]; photo courtesy Kevin Morris [1].

If you find an uncited source, please contact us so that we may correct it.

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