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(c) 2025 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Published with permission. (08-Jan) -- Hellen Obiri of Kenya and Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia will be back to defend their Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America titles on Monday, April 20, race organizers announced today.  Obiri, 35, the reigning Olympic Marathon bronze medalist, will be looking for her third consecutive Boston victory, a feat last accomplished by Ethiopia's Fatuma Roba from 1997 to 1999. "Defending a win is never easy, and to win the Boston Marathon twice in a row was hard, but I am happy to have done it," Obiri said through a media release.  The On Athletics Club athlete continued: "On race day I will again push for the win and hope to make it three in a row." Obiri --the only athlete in history to have won global titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track-- will have to overcome stiff competition to collect another win.  Elite athlete coordinator Mary Kate Shea has stacked the field with a total of 17, sub-2:23:00 women, the fastest being Ethiopians Amane Beriso (2:14:58) and Yalemzerf Yehualaw (2:16:52).  Other title contenders include Kenya's Irine Cheptai (2:17:51), Mary Ngugi (2:20:22), and Sharon Lokedi (2:22:45); Romania's Joan Melly (2:18:24); and Ethiopians Rahma Tusa (2:19:33), Buze Diriba (2:20:22), and Bedatu Hirpa (2:21:09). Several American woman hope to be in the mix for the podium, including Keira D'Amato (2:19:12), Sara Hall (2:20:32), Emma Bates (2:22:10), Dakotah Popehn (2:24:40), and Jess McClain (2:25:46).  Bates was the top USA woman last year, finishing 12th in 2:27:14 after missing last February's Olympic Trials Marathon with an injury.  The last American woman to make the podium in Boston was Jordan Hasay, who finished third in 2019. Lemma, 34, who has a personal best of 2:01:48, completely dominated the 2024 edition of the race.  The adidas-sponsored athlete bolted through the mostly-downhill first half alone in 1:00:19, and even though he slowed badly in the second half he still won by 41 seconds in 2:06:17. "I was very happy after winning the Boston Marathon last year, and in 2025 I know it will be an even bigger challenge to win again," Lemma said through a statement.  "I was unlucky, because of an injury, not to be able to participate at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and I was not completely ready at the Valencia Marathon last December, but I will be 100% ready next April because the Boston Marathon is a special event." Kenyan men have won the Boston Marathon 25 times, and two-time champion Evans Chebet hopes to get back on the top step of the podium.  Chebet, who has a personal best of 2:03:00, won back-to-back in 2022 and 2023 and finished third last year.  Also entered from Kenya are John Korir (2:02:44 PB) --the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion whose brother, Wesley, was the 2012 Boston champion-- and Albert Korir (no relation) who was the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon winner. The men's elite field is particularly deep.  Twenty-one men have run sub-2:09:00 (13 sub-2:07), and 16 countries are represented in the elite field, including four of the top six finishers of last year's Olympic Trials: Conner Mantz (2:07:47 PB), Clayton Young (2:08:00), C.J. Albertson (2:08:17), and Zach Panning (2:09:16).  Shadrack Biwott was the last American man to make the podium in Boston, finishing third in the horrible rainstorm in 2018. The Boston Marathon, founded in 1897 by the Boston Athletic Association, is the world's oldest marathon and proudly remains a bit of a throwback.  The course is hilly, point-to-point, and not record-eligible, a decidedly out-of-fashion approach with all of the emphasis on record-setting in the modern era of marathon running.  Also, no pacemakers are used, and besides a course record bonus of $50,000 the race does not offer any time bonuses.  The winners will receive $150,000 in prize money. "Boston annually brings together the world's best each April, and this Patriots' Day is no different," said Jack Fleming, CEO of the Boston Athletic Association.  "Coming off an Olympic year, top contenders from around the world have turned their attention to Boston and hope to etch their name into Boston Marathon lore with a victory." 2025 Boston Maraton Elite Athlete Lists (with personal best times): *Denotes Masters (40+) athletes WOMEN - Amane Beriso, ETH, 2:14:58 (Valencia, 2022) Yalemzerf Yehualaw, ETH, 2:16:52 (Amsterdam, 2024) Irene Cheptai, KEN, 2:17:51 (Chicago, 2024) Joan Melly, ROU, 2:18:24 (Seoul, 2022) Keira D'Amato, USA, 2:19:12 (Houston, 2022) Rahma Tusa, ETH, 2:19:33 (Houston) Edna Kiplagat, KEN, 2:19:50 (London, 2012)* Buze Diriba, ETH, 2:20:22 (Chicago, 2024) Mary Ngugi, KEN, 2:20:22 (London, 2022) Sara Hall, USA, 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020)* Bedatu Hirpa, ETH, 2:21:09 (Amsterdam, 2024) Calli Hauger-Thackery, GBR, 2:21:34 (Berlin, 2024) Hellen Obiri, KEN, 2:21:38 (Boston, 2023) Emma Bates, USA, 2:22:10 (Boston, 2023) Sharon Cherop, KEN, 2:22:28 (Berlin, 2013)* Desiree Linden, USA, 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)* Sharon Lokedi, KEN, 2:22:45 (Boston, 2024) Viola Chepngeno, KEN, 2:23:23 (Capetown, 2024) Sara Vaughn, USA, 2:23:24 (Chicago, 2023) Lindsay Flanagan, USA, 2:23:31 (Chicago, 2024) Stacy Ndiwa, KEN, 2:23:42 (Chicago, 2024) Gabby Rooker, USA, 2:24:29 (Chicago, 2024) Kellyn Taylor, USA, 2:24:29 (Duluth, 2018) Dakotah Popehn, USA, 2:24:40 (Chicago, 2023) Jackie Gaughan, USA, 2:24:40 (Sacramento) Nell Rojas, USA, 2:24:51 (Boston, 2023) Cynthia Limo, KEN, 2:25:10 (Hamburg, 2024) Lily Partridge, GBR, 2:25:12 (Valencia, 2023) Angie Orjuela, COL, 2:25:35 (Berlin, 2023) NR Jess McClain, USA, 2:25:46 (Orlando, 2024) Lauren Hagans, USA, 2:25:47 (Chicago, 2024) Tristin Colley, USA, 2:25:58 (Chicago, 2023) Annie Frisbie, USA, 2:26:18 (New York City, 2021) Stephanie Bruce, USA, 2:28:41 (Sacramento, 2024)* Anne-Marie Blaney, USA, 2:29:25 (Chicago, 2024) Annie Heffernan, USA, 2:30:26 (Sacramento, 2024) Kodi Kleven, USA, 2:30:43 (St. George, 2024) Hannah Lindholm, SWE, 2:31:18 (Seville, 2024)* Lindsey Bradley, USA, 2:31:46 (Indianapolis, 2024) Sarah Reiter, USA, 2:31:58 (Duluth, 2023) Diana Bogantes, CRC, 2:32:08 (Valencia, 2023) NR Jessie Cardin, USA, 2:33:34 (Chicago, 2022) Ashlee Powers, USA, 2:33:40 (Twin Cities, 2024) Kaylee Flanagan, USA, 2:34:03 (Berlin, 2024) Mimi Smith, USA, 2:34:24 (Chicago, 2023) Rachel Hannah, CAN, 2:34:33 (Toronto, 2024 Megan O'Neil, USA, 2:34:55 (St. Paul, 2024) Anna Benedettini, USA, 2:35:12 (Valley Cottage, 2023) Hailey Bowes, USA, 2:35:36 (Chicago, 2023) Rena Elmer, USA, 2:35:45 (Duluth, 2024)* Veronica Eder, USA, 2:35:46 (Orlando, 2024) Claire Benjamin, USA, 2:35:53 (Sacramento, 2023) Katy Fleuhr, USA, 2:35:55 (Chicago, 2023) Amanda Beach, USA, 2:35:59 (Indianapolis, 2024) Abby McNulty, USA, 2:36:00 (Sacramento, 2023) Sydney Devore, USA, 2:36:01 (NYC, 2023) Stephanie Rouse, USA, 2:36:20 (Sacramento, 2023) Brittney Hall, USA, 2:36:28 (Valley Cottage, 2023) Lucy Dobbs, USA, 2:36:33 (Indianapolis, 2023) Emily Sullivan, USA, 2:36:41 (NYC, 2024) Tabor Hemming, USA, 2:36:59 (Sacramento, 2024) Tammy Hsieh, USA, 2:37:00 (Sacramento, 2023) Sarah Czuprynski, USA, 2:37:21 (Sacramento, 2024) Erika Fleuhr, USA, 2:38:00 (Berlin, 2024) Margaret Vido, USA, 2:38:06 (Sacramento, 2023) Lianne Pagano, USA, 2:38:26 (Sacramento, 2023) Allie Hackett, USA, 2:38:54 (Duluth, 2023) Dot McMahan, USA, 2:38:34 (Orlando, 2024)* Kate Bazeley, CAN, 2:39:30 (Toronto, 2024)* Meriah Earle, USA, 2:39:46 (Orlando, 2024)* Laurie Knowles, USA, 2:41:05 (Duluth, 2024)* Melissa Perlman, USA, 2:42:50 (Chicago, 2025)* April Lund, USA, 2:43:35 (Indianapolis, 2023)* Amber Green, USA, 2:45:37 (St. George, 2023)* Amber Thielbar, USA, 2:45:45 (North Bend, 2024)* MEN - Sisay Lemma, ETH, 2:01:48 (Valencia, 2023) John Korir, KEN, 2:02:44 (Chicago, 2024) Evans Chebet, KEN, 2:03:00 (Valencia, 2020) Cybrian Kotut, KEN, 2:03:22 (Berlin, 2024) Haymanot Alew, ETH, 2:03:31 (Berlin, 2024) Daniel Mateiko, KEN, 2:04:24 (Valencia, 2024) Alphonce Felix Simbu, TAN, 2:04:38 (Valencia, 2024) Lelisa Desisa, ETH, 2:04:45 (Dubai, 2013) Victor Kiplangat, UGA, 2:05:09 (Hamburg, 2022) Asefa Boki, ETH, 2:05:40 (Amsterdam, 2024) Tebello Ramakongoana, LES, 2:06:18 (Xiamen, 2025) NR Abel Kipchumba, KEN, 2:06:49 (Berlin, 2022) Albert Korir, KEN, 2:06:57 (New York City, 2023) Tsegay Weldlibanos, ERI, 2:07:25 (Sacramento, 2024) Patrick Tiernan, AUS, 2:07:45 (Houston, 2024) Conner Mantz, USA, 2:07:47 (Chicago, 2023) Clayton Young, USA, 2:08:00 (Chicago, 2023) Rory Linkletter, CAN, 2:08:01 (Seville, 2024) C.J. Albertson, USA, 2:08:17 (Chicago, 2024) Amanuel Mesel, ERI, 2:08:17 (Valencia, 2013) Erenjia Jia, CHN, 2:08:32 (Berlin, 2024) Zach Panning, USA, 2:09:16 (Chicago, 2024) Colin Bennie, USA, 2:09:38 (Chandler, 2020) Reed Fischer, USA, 2:10:14 (Chicago, 2024) Tesfu Tewelde, ERI, 2:10:21 (St. Paul, 2024) Wesley Kiptoo, KEN, 2:10:28 (Chicago, 2023) Johannes Motschmann, GER, 2:10:39 (London, 2024) Nathan Martin, USA, 2:10:45 (Duluth, 2023) Ryan Ford, USA, 2:11:08 (New York City, 2024) Colin Mickow, USA, 2:11:22 (Chandler, 2020) Turner Wiley, USA, 2:11:55 (Chicago, 2024) Yemane Haileselassie, ERI, 2:11:59 (Honolulu, 2024) Robert Miranda, USA, 2:12:07 (Sacramento, 2024) Charlie Sweeney, USA, 2:12:23 (Chicago, 2024) Will Norris, USA, 2:12:33 (St. Paul, 2024) JP Flavin, USA, 2:12:34 (Chicago, 2024) Joseph Whelan, USA, 2:13:29 (Duluth, 2019) Ilie Corneschi, ROU, 2:13:39 (Berlin, 2022) Erik Linden, USA, 2:14:15 (Sacramento, 2024) Ryan Eiler, USA, 2:14:22 (Boston, 2024) Josh Kalapos, USA, 2:14:26 (Orlando, 2024) Lyle O'Brien, USA, 2:14:29 (Orlando, 2024) Ben Kendell, USA, 2:15:11 (Chicago, 2024) Jacob Heslington, USA, 2:15:12 (Orlando, 2024) Primoz Kobe, SLO, 2:15:37 (Rotterdam, 2022)* Tim McGowan, USA, 2:15:49 (Sacramento, 2024) Andrew Bowman, USA, 2:15:50 (Pittsburgh, 2024) Mason Jones, USA, 2:15:54 (Indianapolis, 2023) Louis Serafini, USA, 2:15:55 (Duluth, 2022) Yudai Fukuda, JPN, 2:15:57 (Gold Coast, 2024) Thomas Toth, CAN, 2:15:57 (Valley Cottage, 2023) Mitch Ammons, USA, 2:16:01 (Valley Cottage, 2023) Hiroaki Furukawa, JPN, 2:16:14 (Kumamoto, 2024) Grant O'Connor, USA, 2:16:17 (Boston, 2024) Aaron Davidson, USA, 2:16:30 (Duluth, 2023) Alex Milne, GBR, 2:16:30 (London, 2023) Kevin Kirk, USA, 2:16:33 (Twin Cities, 2024) Michael Blaszczyk, USA, 2:16:43 (Sacramento, 2023) Joost Plaetinck, USA, 2:16:47 (Sacramento, 2023) Kyle Johnson, USA, 2:16:59 (Duluth, 2024) Prescott Leach, USA, 2:17:28 (Sacramento, 2023)* Jesse Davis, USA, 2:17:30 (Indianapolis, 2023)* Dustin Bybee, USA, 2:19:48 (St. George, 2023)* Jonathan Kotter, USA, 2:20:08 (St. George, 2023)* David Cisewski, USA, 2:20:53 (Chicago, 2023)* Juan Vidal Ribero, ESP, 2:22:14 (Valencia, 2023)* Sam Morse, USA, 2:22:15 (Boston, 2024)* Pablo Villalobos Bazaga, ESP, 2:22:32 (Seville, 2024)* Iain Hunter, USA, 2:23:45 (St. George, 2023)* Muktar Edris, ETH, Debut / 1:00:52 HM Barry Keane, IRL, Debut/ 1:02:35 HM PHOTO: Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia and Hellen Obiri of Kenya are the 2024 Boston Marathon champions (Photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Published with permission. NELSON, NEW ZEALAND (14-Dec) -- Neil Gourley's trip to New Zealand had an inauspicious start. When he arrived at the international airport in Auckland on Wednesday he realized too late that he had forgotten that he had a banana in his luggage.  New Zealand's notoriously strict bio-security laws dictate that travelers cannot bring any fresh fruits or vegetables into the country. "As soon as I saw the dog I knew what was happening," said Gourley referring to the specially trained beagles the New Zealand border authorities use detect fresh tofood. "The dog went straight for it." Gourley, 29, who was en route to the new elite road mile which took place here tonight, part of The Spectacle running festival, paid the mandatory NZD 400 fine (USD 230) after the offending fruit was disposed of and went on his way. "At first I thought they were kidding," he lamented. But the Scotsman's luck would soon change for the better.  In tonight's race --run on a certified, two-lap course in the Nelson city center--  Gourley timed his kick to perfection.  He not only covered an early kick by New Zealand's Sam Tanner, but also caught Australia's Georgia Griffith who, along with the other elite women, had been given a 32-second head start.  His winning time of 4:03.10 was the fastest ever recorded on New Zealand soil in a record-eligible road mile. "Sam made a huge move," Gourley told Race Results Weekly.  "His legs were turning over, and to be honest, I couldn't live with him.  I just had to stay patient and hope that my top-end speed was going to get me by him." It did, but only just. Tanner, who made his move coming out of the final turn of the 750-meter circuit, finished just 1/10th of a second behind in 4:03.20, and just 8/100ths of a second ahead of Griffith. "I knew that I'm short and Neil's tall, so the way to get a jump on him was to accelerate through the corner," Tanner explained.  "And, I just accelerated pretty hard through the corner and I think I got a gap on him.  But I showed my lack of training in the last 50, I guess." As the overall winner, Gourley pocketed NZD 10,000 (USD 5762) in prize money, more than enough to cover the fine he paid at the airport.  Tanner collected NZD 6000, and Griffiths came away with NZD 7000. "I was just going as fast as I could, hoping that the downhill on the front, finish line straight would help a little bit," said Griffiths, who ran 4:35.97.  "I could hear the crowd getting pretty loud, and knew the guys were coming up on me.  I saw the finish line and I was getting close.  I was hoping I'd be able to hold them off, but they just got me on the line." Brian Fay of Ireland was the third male finisher (4:04.31), and Sarah Billings of Australia (4:39.60) and Sophie O'Sullivan of Ireland (4:42.73) finished second and third, respectively, in the women's division. Tonight's race capped over 24 hours of racing here which included trail races up to 100 miles, a 5-K, and a series of relays for both children and adults.  The Spectacle was the brainchild of New Zealand 1500m Olympian Julian Matthews who grew up here.  Looking equal parts exhausted and elated after the race, he could hardly believe that he and his partner, Annika Pfitzinger, had pulled the event off. "I'm lost for words," Matthews told Race Results Weekly, shaking his head.  "I'm in a bit of a dream state at the moment." PHOTO: Neil Gourley wins the first edition of the road mile at The Spectacle running event in Nelson, New Zealand in 4:03.10 (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved, Published with permission. NELSON, NEW ZEALAND (13-Dec) -- A new multi-race running event debuts here this weekend.  Dubbed The Spectacle, it combines both trail and road running with distances from just one mile all the way up to 100 miles.  It even features the launch of a new book, "Running Throughout Time" by veteran author Roger Robinson. "This is the first time Nelson has hosted an event like this," race director Julian Matthews said through a press release.  Matthews, who competed for New Zealand in the 1500m in the 2016 Olympics, continued: "We've brought together an incredible lineup of athletes, and the city's central streets will provide the perfect stage for them to deliver something truly special." The events begin on Friday with the start of a grueling 100-mile trail race.  "This is 160 km of single track and forestry roads, hundreds of metres of vert, sweat, dirt, dust and probably some tears, and will be an adventure like no other," reads the event website.  The race features about 7000 meters of total ascent and descent with a maximum elevation of 1135.  It finishes on Trafalgar Square West in front of the towering Christ Church Cathedral. There are also shorter distances on the trails --100 km, 50 km, 21 km, and 10 km-- with different starting times on Saturday. Later on Saturday the competition moves to the streets of Nelson.  Citizen runners can try distances of one mile, 5 km (which includes a walk), and four-person relays of 4 x 750m for adults and 4 x 375m for children. The festival comes to a crescendo on Saturday night with an elite, two-lap road mile which features five Olympians, all of whom got their own banner hoisted to the ceiling of the local airport to greet them (see photo).  Like the Kalakaua Merrie Mile in Honolulu last Saturday, the elite mile uses a chase format where the women get about a 30-second head start. The elite women are led by Australia's Georgia Griffith, a two-time Olympian with a 3:58.40 1500m personal best (4:27.81 PB for the mile).  She'll be running against compatriot Sarah Billings (3:59.59/4:32.30), and Irish Olympian Sophie O'Sullivan (4:00.23/4:33.30).  Katherine Camp of New Zealand (4:15.09/4:44.24) and Brigid Dennehy of Ireland (4:14.03/4:47.16).  Dennehy lives in New Zealand and runs for North Harbour Bays Athletics. Two-time New Zealand Olympian Sam Tanner leads the men's field.  The 24 year-old former NCAA star for the University of Washington has run 3:31.24 for 1500m and 3:49.51 for the mile.  He'll be challenged by Scotsman Neil Gourley, a British Olympian who has run 3:30.60/3:47.74.  Two-time Olympian Stewart McSweyn (3:29.51/3:48.37) will carry Australia's hopes into the race, and American Vince Ciattei (3:31.78/3:50.56) and Ireland's Brian Fay (3:36.52/3:52.03) round out the field. Unlike last Saturday's Kalakaua Merrie Mile where prize money is paid only on the overall order of finish of men and women combined based on the handicap format, athletes here will run for both separate prize money in the men's and women's division plus an additional schedule of awards for the overall, mixed-sex order of finish.  The male/female prize money is NZD 6000 (=USD 3458), 4000, 2000, 1000, and 500.  The separate battle of the sexes prize money is NZD 4000 (=USD 2306), 2000, 1000.  So, the overall winner will earn NZD 10,000 (=USD 5763). Race director Matthews, who is organizing the event with his partner Annika Pfitzinger, is from Nelson and "knows everyone in town," he said on Wednesday night while picking up guests at the local airport with a white, 15-passenger van.  He's clearly jazzed to have the attention of the running world focused on Nelson, population 55,600, for a few days. "It's a race designed to be both thrilling to watch and unforgettable to run," he said. PHOTO: Banners honoring the file Olympians running The Spectacle --Georgia Griffith and Stewart McSweyn of Australia, Sam Tanner of New Zealand, Neil Gourley of Great Britain, and Sophia O'Sullivan of Ireland-- hung from the rafters of the Nelson Airport (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

HONOLULU (06-Dec) -– Heather MacLean wasn't sure if she was going to be able to watch the Paris Olympics this past summer. She had come up short in her bid to qualify in the 1500 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, and after making the team for Tokyo three years ago it was especially disappointing. "I kept telling myself I wasn't going to watch and then I ended up watching every single race," MacLean told Race Results Weekly in an interview here yesterday ahead of the Kalakaua Merrie Mile on Saturday. "I cheered-on all the U.S. athletes. I still took part in the way that I could. It's everybody's goal, and I've made it before so I know how exciting that can be. That's the hard part: everybody wants it, but only three people go." The fact that she had even been in contention for an Olympic berth was a tremendous accomplishment given that she had only been training for five months after injuries had sidelined her for most of the 2023 season. And, in fact, MacLean had nearly pulled it off. Running a strategically savvy race in the Trials final, she had quietly moved herself into second place with one lap to go and was challenging for the lead down the final backstretch at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Alas, her lack of training finally caught up with her at the end. "I was fighting for my life that last 100. I was racing so above my fitness at the time," she admitted. "I really gave it my all and that's something I've been working on, making sure I'm going into every single race giving it my all. I can really say that I did that in that race, and that's something to be proud of. I didn't make the team, but I did get a fast time, my PR." The University of Massachusetts Amherst graduate wound up seventh overall in the deepest race in U.S. history, clocking 3:58.31. Adding to her complicated feelings, her two primary training partners on coach Mark Coogan’s New Balance Boston squad, Emily Mackay and Elle St. Pierre, had made the team, finishing second and third, respectively. "It's a hard balance, because I wanted to show my support," the 29-year-old MacLean said of her decision to tune-in for the Olympics. "You admire these people who made it, but you also feel sad for yourself because you wanted to be one of those individuals. Everyone wants that fairy-tale ending: everything you went through was worth it because you made the team. But I've been coming to terms more recently with [the fact that] I didn't make the team, and the process that I went through is going to help me in the future." Following the Olympic berth in 2021 and another strong campaign in 2022 (including a U.S. indoor title in the 1500), MacLean saw her momentum disrupted last year. An injury to her right leg that was originally diagnosed as iliotibial band syndrome turned out to be a stress fractures in her femur and a stress reaction in her tibia. After finishing seventh at the USATF Outdoor Championships in July, she called it a season. The recovery was drawn out, and she was off her feet for several months. In late October, she started swimming for fitness. "I didn't know how to swim, so I had to learn," she said with a laugh. "That was one of the exciting things that came out of this. Though I'm not very good!" About a month later that evolved into aqua-jogging in the pool, and by the end of the year she was running on dry land again, but just a mile every other day. A winter training camp at high altitude in Flagstaff, Arizona, was a humbling experience, but she steadily worked her way into racing shape. Her spring results were encouraging. In May she finished first in her section of the 1500 at the Los Angeles Grand Prix, followed by another win at the HBCU Pro Classic in Atlanta. She sharpened up for the Olympic Trials with a personal best in the 800 (1:58.77). At the Trials, she made it through the rounds and was feeling confident. Though the end result in the final wasn't what she was hoping for ("I had a really good 1400 meters," she joked), MacLean was ultimately grateful for the experience. "You want it to come together at the perfect time, and it did — I PR'd at the Olympic Trials," she said. "I just wasn't quite in the shape that I needed to be in to make the team. That's a hard pill to swallow. It made me excited." With a solid fall training base in the bank, she's looking ahead to the 2025 season, where she hopes to make the U.S. team for the world championships both indoors (in Nanjing, China, in March) and outdoors (in Tokyo in September). "Last year I had some trouble getting into races, so I'd like to have a good indoor season to prove my fitness," she said. "It would be great to be part of [Michael Johnson's new] Grand Slam [league], maybe get an opportunity to be a challenger in one of those meets. I'm looking forward to having a healthy year of racing." Saturday's Kalakaua Merrie Mile, held steps away from the beach in Waikiki, presents a chance to break up her training, test her fitness, and escape the chilly Boston weather. In the unique pursuit format, the women's field will start 32 seconds ahead of the men, with the $18,000 prize pool awarded based on the overall order of finish, including $7,500 for the winner. "The times here are actually pretty fast, because nobody can jog it. You don’t know when the men's field is going to come after you," said MacLean, who previously ran the event in 2022. "I have been looking forward to this all fall. The field is incredible, but it's on the road, which takes a lot of the pressure off. It's a premiere event and I'm very grateful to have been invited." PHOTO: Heather MacLean in at a Waikiki hotel on December 5 (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)