She’s proved that performance wasn’t a fluke by running three more sub 2:33 marathons since then. It’ll be interesting to see how she responds to being one of the top 10 seeds this time around.
times for South Africa). Despite the fact that she did not finish in 2008, and she’s four years older, I’m still picking her as a dark horse, mainly because she’s proved she can still run in the low 2:30s. Plus, it’d make for a very interesting story.
Blake Russell Age: 36, PR: 2:29:10, Qualifier: 1:11:55 (half marathon)
Jen Houck
Eight years ago, Russell finished a disappointing fourth at the trials when she was passed in the final 400 meters. She redeemed herself in 2008 by placing third at the trials before going on to finish twenty-seventh in Beijing. Heading into the 2008 trials, she hadn’t run a marathon in over three years. She’ll have to rely on that experience again, because she dropped out of this year’s Boston Marathon and had to rely on her half marathon time for a qualifier.
Age: 27, PR: 2:33:00, Qualifier: 2:33:00, Grandma’s (’11) When Houck toes the line for a marathon, all she does is PR. In 2010, she ran Boston in 2:39:02 and Chicago in 2:37:16. This year, she returned to Boston with a 2:34:28 and then two months later ran 2:33:00 at Grandma’s. If she continues this trend, the former College of St. Scholastica star could turn some heads.
Amy Hastings Age: 25, PR: 2:27:03, Qualifier: 2:27:03, Los Angeles (’11) In her marathon debut at this year’s Los Angeles Marathon, Hastings ran 2:27:03, the third fastest debut by an American ever. This makes the 10 time All-American at Arizona State University the fourth fastest qualifier and an immediate contender.
Janet Cherobon-Bowcom Age: 33, PR: 2:37:27, Qualifier: 1:11:21 (half marathon) Although she’s only run 2:37, I’m including the Kenyan born CherobonBowcom as a dark horse because she’s consistently run sub 1:12s for the half marathon. Plus, she’s running well, having recently won the U.S. 20K and 10M champions in 1:08:31 and 54:15, respectively.
The Dark Horses PHOTOS COURTESY OF PHOTORUN.NET
The Locals
Denna Kastor Age: 38, PR: 2:19:36, Qualifier: 2:36:20, London (’10) Honestly, I have no idea where to place Kastor. On one hand, she’s the 2004 bronze medalist and the reigning American record holder at this distance. On the other hand, she’s nearly 39 years old and her 2:36 qualifier barely puts her in the top 25. With all that said, I think Kastor will be a factor in Houston.
Meghan (Armstrong) Peyton Age: 26, PR: N/A, Qualifier: 1:13:56 (half marathon) Team USA Minnesota’s Peyton has had a solid year finishing in the top seven at four different U.S. championships ranging from 5K to 20K. Most recently, she placed sixth at the TC 10 Mile in 55:09. She’s using her half marathon time for a qualifier, so Houston will be her marathon debut.
Kristen Nicolini Age: 34, PR: 2:35:06, Qualifier: 2:35:06, Twin Cities (’09)
Dot McMahan Age: 35, PR: 2:31:48, Qualifier: 2:31:48, Grandma’s (’11) Perhaps no one was more excited about their performance at this year’s Grandma’s Marathon than McMahan. The former 800 meter and mile specialist from Wisconsin ran 2:31:48 to PR by more than three minutes. In Houston, she’ll need to improve upon her eighth place finish in 2008.
Ilsa Paulson Age: 23, PR: 2:31:49, Qualifier: 2:31:49, Twin Cities (’09) You may remember Paulson from when she won the 2009 Twin Cities Marathon at the ripe old age of 20. She also won the Country Music Marathon six months later in 2:33:41. However, since then, things have been pretty quiet from her.
Colleen De Reuck Age: 47, PR: 2:26:35, Qualifier: 2:30:51, Copenhagen (’10) Four years ago, even at age 43, I had De Reuck as a contender, because she was the defending trials champion and a four time Olympian (three
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
Nicolini made her marathon debut at the 2009 Twin Cities Marathon. There she placed third in the U.S. Championships in 2:35:06. The trials will be this former Team USA Minnesota runner’s second marathon.
Leah Thorvilson Age: 33, PR: 2:37:54, Qualifier: 2:39:43, Grandma’s (’11) Thorvilson was a sprinter, hurdler and triple jumper at Armstrong High School before becoming a distance runner at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. She’s a three time winner of the Little Rock Marathon and at this year’s Grandma’s Marathon she placed seventeenth in 2:39:43.
Jenna Boren Age: 33, PR: 2:40:45, Qualifier: 2:40:45, Grandma’s (’11) Boren is a three time Minnesota Runner of the Year. The St. Olaf College graduate will be making her second trials appearance, having finished ninety-fourth in 2008. She’s had great success at Grandma’s Marathon over the years, including a 2:40:45 PR this year.
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Minnesota Distance Running Association