The Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Fiona O’Keeffe smashed the women’s U.S. Olympic marathon trials record in her debut at the distance on a warm Saturday to secure her spot in the Paris Games.

O’Keeffe, a trainee in the Triangle area, completed the marathon trials in 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 10 seconds, breaking the previous American record of 2:25:38 set by Shalane Flanagan of Chapel Hill in 2012 in Houston. Emily Sisson, who holds the U.S. marathon record, came in second place, while Dakotah Lindwurm made a strong comeback to secure third place and a spot on Team USA for Paris.

Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, who are both training partners and close friends, took first and second place on the men’s side and secured their qualification for Paris. They celebrated with the spectators as they crossed the finish line. Mantz completed the race in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 5 seconds, while Young finished just one second behind after giving way towards the end.

Leonard Korir utilized a final burst of energy to secure third place, but he must now patiently wait until May to find out if an additional Olympic spot will become available for the American men’s marathon team. His finishing time was 2:09.57, slightly below the required time of 2:08.10 to secure a spot in the Paris Games.

The temperature at the beginning of the race was approximately 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 Celsius), but it rose to the 70s as the race progressed. In November, organizers changed the race start time to 10 a.m. due to weather concerns.

O’Keeffe savored the moment following her unexpected finish.

In a post-race interview, O’Keeffe expressed surprise at her performance, stating, “I couldn’t believe it when there were only eight miles left. I had to remind myself to stay calm and not panic.”

Sisson found redemption when she dropped out of the marathon trials in Atlanta in February 2020. Lindwurm, who used to play goaltender for her high school ice hockey team in Minnesota, traveled to Florida in December to acclimate to the warmer climate.

Due to a knee injury, Molly Seidel, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, was unable to participate in the race.

Mantz and Young both attended BYU and are coached by Ed Eyestone, a two-time Olympic marathon runner. Collaborating throughout the competition, Mantz and Young started to distance themselves from the other runners with approximately three miles left. Young even adjusted his hat, and eventually took it off, to focus on their goal.

After undergoing knee surgery last year, Young excited the crowd by lifting his arms and encouraging more applause as they reached the end of the race.

It was the platform they shared, and they savored the experience as a team.

Galen Rupp, who had previously won the U.S. marathon trials twice, finished in 16th place. 47-year-old Abdi Abdirahman, attempting to qualify for his sixth Olympic team, withdrew from the race.

The race through the roads of Orlando began with a 2 1/2-mile circuit before splitting into three eight-mile circuits on the mostly level course.

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The 2024 Paris Olympic Games will be featured at the AP Summer Olympics.

Source: wralsportsfan.com