Athletics: Women's Olympic Marathon Statistics

From Ryan Lamppa, Road Running Information Center

Here are some of the stats and news notes that quickly leaped out of Saturday morning's big race in St. Louis.

* Colleen De Reuck set a new Trials record with her 2:28:25. The old record was 2:29:50 by Margaret Groos in 1988 (Pittsburgh).

* For the first time, three finishers broke 2:30.

* De Reuck qualified for her fourth Olympic team, the previous three for South Africa. Kastor and Rhines qualified for their second team, having made the U.S. 10,000-meter squad in 2000.

* The first 7 finishers recorded the fastest times for their places in Women's OMT history.

* Thirteen of the top 20 finishers set personal records. Overall, 27 women ran PRs.

* Jen Rhines PR'd by 11 minutes, 19 seconds. Heather Hanscom (6th, 2:31:53) had a PR by 6:06. Both are coached by two-time U.S. Olympian Matt Centrowitz, at American University in D.C.

* Bev Docherty, 45, of St. Paul MN finished her 6th straight Marathon Trials in 2:52:21. Maria Trujillo De Rios, 44, ran the 1984 Olympic Marathon for Mexico, and has since finished 5 straight U.S. Trials (2:58:38 on Saturday).

* Colleen De Reuck will turn 40 on April 13, and will become the first over-40 runner to represent the U.S. in the Olympic Marathon. Jenny Spangler (10th, 2:36:30) and Linda Somers Smith (11th, 2:37:28) have passed their 40th birthdays. Joan Samuelson, 46, did not compete, due to an Achilles injury.

* Kate Fonshell, a 1996 Olympian at 10,000 meters, ran 2:45:34 to finish 37th.

* Former Foot Locker XC Champ Julia Stamps ran 2:55:48 to finish 81st.

* A total of 107 runners finished.