After a hard fought battle in Orlando, six of America’s best marathoners are headed to Paris to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games this summer.
An estimated 100,000 fans gathered on the Orlando streets to cheer on the runners as they competed in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and were treated to an unforgettable race that included incredible performances from the athletes who competed.
In the end, it was Fiona O’Keeffe and Conner Mantz who stood above the rest, winning the Olympic Trials Marathon in the women’s and men’s races, respectively. Emily Sisson and Dakotah Lindwurm round out the women’s team who will compete in Paris, while Clayton Young and Leonard Korir are expected to round out the men’s team.
Here’s a rundown of what happened.
It only took one try for O’Keeffe to go out and make a name for herself in the marathon. The elite runner who represents Puma and is coached by legendary runners Amy and Alistar Cragg took home the win in the women’s race at the Trials with her time of 2:22:10.
O’Keefe stayed in the lead pack throughout the entirety of the race, and as others started to fall off the pace and the lead pack, O’Keeffe got stronger as the race progressed. At mile 19, she was off to the races and never looked back.
“It felt right, maybe a little bit of not knowing what I was getting myself into was a good thing,” she said. “But I’m glad it worked out.”
She negative split her final miles, including putting down a 5:09 at mile 25 en route to winning the race and clinching her spot on the Olympic Team.
O’Keeffe said that towards the end of the race, she felt the excitement as she inched closer to the finish line, as well as some nerves due to the elite level of competition that she was facing.
“I was starting to hear people say that you’re going to Paris,” she said. “But I knew there were so many strong women behind me, so I was running scared a little bit.”
Sisson knew what had to be done in order to make her second Olympic Team, and she accomplished just that. Sisson kept her composure as she secured her spot on the team, running 2:22:42 to finish in second place.
Sisson said that when she started hurting in the race, she saw former American record holder Deena Kastor in one of the lead trucks, as Kastor was commentating the race for NBC. Sisson read Kastor’s book Let Your Mind Run, and drew inspiration from Kastor.
“I was trying to hang on to the group as long as I could, and towards the end, I said keep running this pace,” she said. “I’m excited, we’re sending a really good team.”
Lindwurm was a walk-on at Northern State University, a Division II program in South Dakota. Now, she’s headed to Paris to represent Team USA in the marathon.
Lindwurm finished third, running 2:25:31 on the day. She showed a great deal of toughness, as she was able to hold on to the third spot, holding off Jess McClain, Sara Hall and Caroline Rotich.
“My whole life my dad told me that anybody can beat anybody on any given day,” she said. “Especially later in the race when I was passing Betsy and Sara Hall, I was telling myself that I can be just as good as these women and I can make these moves and be confident doing it.”
It was quite the day for the dynamic duo of Conner Mantz and Clayton Young at the Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando. Mantz and Young finished 1-2 respectively, while Leonard Korir finished in third place to round up the men’s Olympic Marathon team that are expected to represent Team USA in Paris this summer.
Mantz and Young were sitting in third place behind Zach Panning, until around mile 21. Mantz and Young took control of the race. As the end of the race drew near, Mantz and Young ran side by side all the way to the finish line, with Mantz taking the win in 2:09.05, and Young finishing right behind with 2:09.06.
Mantz and Young unlocked the two Olympic qualifying spots for the men’s marathon. The duo needed to finish 1-2 to secure their place on the team, which they did. Mantz said that he felt a sense of gratitude, and not relief after the race.
“It’s not a feeling of relief, it’s a feeling of gratitude,” he said. “Gratitude for all those who helped me, my coaches, my family, Clayton, all the many training partner’s we’ve had – it’s just like a dream come true.”
From wearing sunglasses before, during and after the marathon, to celebrating as he approached the finish line, Young made the most of his opportunity and had fun in the process. He said that Mantz told him that he wasn’t feeling so hot, so Young told him to stick with him to the finish. He said that Young helped throughout the build and beyond, and that it was a team effort.
“Even though I might have been feeling better, I just wanted to take every step of the way with Conner over the last couple miles,” Young said. “That’s how it worked out. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Conner is the guy who has pulled me this entire build day-in and day-out in practice. He works hard and he deserves this just as much as I do. It definitely took a team effort.”
Korir had an incredible finish to the race, earning his spot on the Olympic team with his time of 2:09:57. In the last mile, he surged ahead to third place. As of right now, Korir ranks 72 in the world when it comes to the men’s marathon. Korir needs to remain in the top 80 by May 5 to keep his spot on the Olympic Team.
Don’t think for one second that being in the top 80 is a current concern for Korir. After missing the Olympic Team in 2020 by one spot, he’s excited about his third place finish.
“I don’t know for now, but for right now, I’m happy to have finished third,” he said. “It’s a big achievement for me.”
