My tenure as WLDR National Championships Chair gives me a unique perspective on this past weekend’s Olympic Trials Marathon. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Let’s never forget the Real Purpose of the Trials. To select the top 3 American men and women marathoners. Athletes that will give us the best possible chance to put bodies on the Olympic Games podium. Take away the fluff and feel good and human interest stories and all that is left is international racing at the very highest level. 511 women. 260 men. Six spots.
The qualifying standards for the women are much too soft. The men’s standard is merely too soft. Those standards are set by the respective Men’s and Women’s LDR leadership. Over a decade’s personal experience at that table allows today’s opinions. I was/am always willing to listen to my peers, doesn’t mean I had/have to agree with them.
If you qualified at 2019 CIM your odds of making the team in February are zero. If you qualified at 2020 Houston you’re odds are nil. If you qualified with a marathon B time, not a chance.
The reason for soft qualifying times, in theory, is that it exposes more communities around the U.S. to locally talented dreamers. To inspire the next generation.
I sat on the 2008 USA Olympic Trials Site Selection Committee. Listened to the Best Pitch from multiple major marathons. A priority was always course design. That beast that was offered up in Atlanta, how was it sold to LDR leadership? Two reasons. number one is Rich Kenah and the Atlanta Track Club agreed to fully fund “B” qualifiers, a first for an Olympic Trials Marathon. The second is the Peacock. NBC Television broadcast worth its weight in negotiating gold. So there you have it.
Tessa Stoltenburg (336th, 2:57:49) of Omaha, represented the Dakota Distance Project and was the only Nebraska finisher.
Johnny Rutford (149th, 2:31:57) of Portland, OR and Hayley Sutter (247th, 2:51:14) of Boston, MA represented LRC Racing.
Trials and Tribulations.
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