Olympic Marathon Trials: The Race is Live
A 16-Year-Old in the Lead Women’s Pack
Tierney Wolfgram, a 16-year-old cross country phenom, is in the top pack after two miles. She qualified for the trials by running the Twin Cities Marathon in 2:40:23, some 20 minutes slower than Jordan Hasay, who is on her tail.
Her current pace of 5:39 per mile would have her finishing in 2:25:57.
Wolgram is the youngest of the women at the trials.
Here Comes the Chalk — Rupp and Korir Moving Up
It took a little more than three miles but the chalk is moving into position. Rupp and Leonard Korir are settling in just behind the leaders.
They are running about 4:55 miles.
Born in Iten, Korir is the hot new thing in U.S. marathoning. He ran his first 26.2 in Amsterdam in the fall and put up the 2:07:56, the fastest ever American debut. He runs for the U.S. Army and didn’t do a tuneup so his health coming in was unclear.
He clearly has wheels but Amsterdam is flat and fast. This is not a speed race — it’s a championship event where third is the same as first and 4th is the same as 50th, which makes it a puzzle for Korir and anyone else capable of going low. He has run a 59:51 in the half-marathon. If you are someone who is not naturally as fast, like Scott Fauble or Jared Ward, you are terrified of Korir running away from you, but also skeptical that his speed can hold up on a hilly grinding course.
450 Women Begin Their Race to the Olympics
The women are off. This is the biggest field the race has ever seen, with 450 women toeing the start line in Atlanta.
The women entering the race with the fastest times include Jordan Hasay, Sara Hall, Emily Sisson, and Kellyn Taylor. But it would be foolish to count out Sally Kipyego, Emma Bates, Molly Huddle or Des Linden. The question is who can handle the conditions – a windy, hilly, chilly course. It will be a tactical 26.2 miles, one that could go to any of the top runners in the field.
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/29/sports/olympics/olympic-marathon-trials.html