The US Olympic marathon trials lived up to the hype and expectation when it came to the exciting nature of the races, but the form book was turned on its head as a number of favourites finished out of the running.
The American selection system of the first three past the post certainly focuses the minds of athletes and enhances the drama for spectators. This led to a high-pressure situation and although Galen Rupp lived up to his billing by winning the men’s race, behind him – and in the women’s race – there were plenty of turn-ups.
On a thrilling day in the US city, two-time Olympic medallist Rupp was followed home by surprise package Jacob Riley and veteran runner Abdi Abdirahman, while Aliphine Tuliamuk won the women’s race from marathon debutante Molly Seidel and Sally Kipyego after the six athletes overcame the challenging hilly course and cold, windy conditions as well as their rivals to triumph.
Winning his second consecutive US Olympic trial marathon, Rio bronze medallist Rupp clocked 2:09:20 to finish 42 seconds ahead of the unsponsored Riley, whose comeback after injury issues saw him secure his first Olympic place.
Behind Rupp it was a close fight for the two other team places, with 43-year-old Abdirahman just one second back in third to make his fifth Olympics, while 2016 trials third-placer and 2:07 man Leonard Korir just missed out this time, running 2:10:06 for fourth place.
The races featured many stories of strength and resilience, particularly in the women’s contest where Seidel secured the second women’s team place after clocking 2:27:31 in her first ever marathon behind Tuliamuk’s winning 2:27:23, while Kipyego ran 2:28:52 to make her first Olympics for the United States after claiming 10,000m silver for Kenya in 2012.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 05, 2020-Ausgabe von Athletics Weekly.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 05, 2020-Ausgabe von Athletics Weekly.
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