[ad_1]
MIAMI: First-time marathon runner Fiona O’Keefe won the women’s division of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials on Saturday to qualify for the Paris Olympics, while Conner Mantz took the men’s title.
O’Keefe, who qualified for the event based on her half marathon performance, completed the 26.2-mile race in Orlando, Florida, in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 10 seconds, the fastest time in U.S. women’s Olympic Trials history.
The result was enough to edge out former U.S. marathon record holder and runner-up Emily Sisson by 32 seconds, while Dakotah Lindwurm took the third and final spot in the women’s field at the Paris Marathon in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 31 seconds.
“We came in some tough conditions, so I think we’re ready to go big in Paris,” O’Keefe said.
The top three were Emily Sisson (second), Fiona O’Keefe (first) and Dakotah Lindwurm. —USA TODAY Sports
Sisson has twice finished in the top 10 in the 10,000m at the world championships and was 10th in the 10,000m at the Tokyo Olympics, but he is glad there are no coronavirus restrictions this time around.
“I feel so emotional,” she said. “My family and friends are all here watching me, and I’m making the Olympic team for the second time, and they’re going to be competing with me this time. I’m so happy. I’m so happy.”
On the men’s side, Mantz won the U.S. Men’s Marathon Trials in 2:09:05, with his friend and training partner Clayton Young finishing one second behind and booking a spot in the Paris Olympics.
Leonard Korir finished third in 2:09:57, but will have to wait until May to find out if the international rankings will give the U.S. team a third spot in the men’s marathon at the Paris Olympics.
— AFP
[ad_2]
Source link
