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(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. (10-Aug) -- When the Paris Olympic marathon course was unveiled two years ago, it was touted as "a challenge without precedent" due to a series of ominously steep hills. Tamirat Tola was up to the challenge. Named to Ethiopia’s team just two weeks ago as a replacement for Boston Marathon winner Sisay Lemma, the 32-year-old Tola made a bold move over a stretch of brutal hills in the second half to run away from the field and take the gold medal, breaking the Olympic record in the process. Behind him, silver medalist Belgium's Bashir Abdi ran onto the podium for the second straight Olympics, while Kenya's Benson Kipruto took the bronze. The race began — with 81 starters from 42 countries — at Hôtel de Ville, Paris's city hall, with bright sun and temperatures at 62F/17C, but soon to climb. The course rolled through and past some of the city's most iconic landmarks and not long after cutting through the grounds of the Musée du Louvre, the pack hit the 5K in a cautious 15:40, the runners no doubt wary of the challenges to come. Americans Conner Mantz and Clayton Young were near the front of a large group that passed 10-K in 30:59. Italy's Eyob Faniel then began a solo breakaway that would give him a 23-second lead at 15-K (45:38) right before the race's biggest hills. Two-time defending gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya soon lost contact and appeared in discomfort, later revealing he experienced back pain. He would ultimately drop out after 30K. "The hills didn't affect me at all," the 39-year-old Kipchoge said. "The pain made me stop." Up front, at 20-K Faniel's lead was down to 11 seconds (1:01:32), with Tola leading the pursuit up the course's first big hill. He and Mantz caught the Italian by 21K and the trio plunged downhill through the halfway point in 1:04:51, though Faniel was beginning to fade. (He would finish 43rd, in 2:12:50.) Eight men were together at the turnaround point at the Palace of Versailles at 23K: Tola, Abdi, Kipruto, Mantz, Tanzania's Alphonse Simbu, Japan's Akira Akasaki, South Africa's Elroy Gelant, and Ethiopia's Deresa Geleta. But with the course's ultra-steep hill from 28 to 29 km approaching, the pace softened just enough to allow the lead pack to grow to 15, including Young. "I was frustrated to hear another athlete catch up to the pack, but so excited when it was Clayton," Mantz later wrote on Instagram. "Keep your friends close." The decisive move came up that hill where the course rises at a 10.5% grade. Tola, winner of last year's TCS New York City Marathon and the 2022 World Championships Marathon, surged to a lead he would not surrender. By the time he reached the top at 30K (1:31:12) his lead was 11 seconds, with Great Britain’s Emile Cairess in second place. "My intention was just to keep up with the people who were pushing on ahead, but when I caught them I decided to go on alone," Tola said. "I had difficulties on the hilly section, so I was afraid at that point." Tola ripped a 14:02 split over the next 5K segment, thanks to a sharp downhill, and at 35K (1:45:14) his lead was up to 18 seconds. With the Eiffel Tower in sight, Geleta, Abdi and Kipruto pulled away from Akasaki, setting up a three-man battle for the last two podium spots. Up ahead, Tola periodically looked behind, but showed no signs of slowing. At 40-K (2:00:02) his lead was 22 seconds over Abdi, who began to pull away from Kipruto, while Geleta fell back.  Despite the hills, Tola was on Olympic record pace, an incredible feat considering the difficulty of the course. Tola finally acknowledged the boisterous crowd support with about 200 meters to go, briefly waving his arms in celebration before crossing the finish line at Esplanade des Invalides in 2:06:26. That cut six seconds from the previous Olympic record, set in 2008 by the late Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya (on a much flatter route). Tola earned his second career Olympic medal after taking the bronze in the 10,000 meters in Rio in 2016. "I am happy today because I fulfilled my goal. I prepared well. I trained hard so I could win," said Tola. "In my life, this is my great achievement." This marks the fifth time an Ethiopian has won the Olympic marathon, and the first since 2000, when Gezahegne Abera took the gold at the Sydney Games. Abdi, 35, crossed in 2:06:47, upgrading from the bronze he won three years ago in Sapporo, Japan. "This is the hardest marathon course I've ever run," he said. "I expected going uphill would be most challenging, but I found going downhill most difficult. It was very steep and you don't have control of your body. That was very scary, especially after 29-K, we had almost 2-K of running downhill and it was just going more down and down, and I was really afraid of falling." Kipruto, who won March's Tokyo Marathon in 2:02:16 (currently the fastest time in the world this year), took the bronze in 2:07:00. "The course was tough but I'm happy with the result I posted," said the 33-year-old Kenyan, who finished on the podium at the Boston and Chicago Marathons in 2022 and 2023, including a Chicago win two years ago. "I trained with the mind first before going to the legs and the heart. Running uphill and downhill was not easy." Cairess (2:07:29) moved up from sixth at 40-K to finish fourth, followed by Geleta (2:07:31), Akasaki (2:07:32 PR) and Lesotho's Tebello Ramakongoana (2:07:58 national record). Mantz took eighth in 2:08:12, followed by training partner Young (2:08:44), who joyously soaked in the experience over the final stretch and then lingered at the finish line to congratulate the athletes coming in behind him. "Thank you to everyone who cheered both @_clayton_young_ and I on today (both near and far)," Mantz wrote in his Instagram post. "We've both had an insane amount of support from family, friends, and fans during this time." Leonard Korir (2:18:45), the third American in the race, was out of contention early and finished 63rd. Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele, 42, a four-time gold medalist on the track, finished 39th in 2:12:24 in his first Olympic appearance since 2012. The Netherlands' Abdi Nageeye, silver medalist at the the Tokyo Games, and Kipchoge were among 10 competitors who did not finish. "I don’t know what my future will hold," said the always thoughtful Kipchoge, who is less than a year removed from his last marathon win, in Berlin last September. "I will think about it over the next three months. I still want to try to run some marathons." PHOTO: Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia wins the 2024 Men's Olympic Marathon in Paris in an Olympic record 2:06:26 (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

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EUGENE, ORE. (27-Jun) -- With the two standard bearers of American women's steeplechasing out with injuries, the final at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials — Track & Field figured to be an evenly matched contest featuring several strong contenders. The race delivered on that promise, with Val Constien ultimately dominating an exceptionally deep event thanks to a blistering final lap of the Hayward Field track. She'll be heading to her second Olympic Games, joined in Paris by second and third place finishers Courtney Wayment and Marisa Howard. Annie Rodenfels was the early leader, opening a gap of as much as 40 meters on the pack through the 1000-meter mark (3:00.53). It wasn't until about 1800 meters that the field finally swallowed her up, led by Wayment, Howard and Olivia Markezich, the recent Notre Dame grad. Wayment continued to press the pace, hitting the 2000 in 6:08.53 as the field began to string out. Finally, with 300 meters to go, Constien swung wide and surged to the front. She was unstoppable from there, cruising home in 9:03.22, a meet record. "I'm a pretty good closer, and so I knew if I knew if I was in the mix in the last 300 it would be tough to beat me," said Constien, who missed most of the 2023 season with a knee injury. "I'm getting confident in my kick and so I knew I had it in me." In the battle behind her, Markezich stumbled off the final water barrier but regrouped and chased Howard and Wayment into the homestretch. Unfortunately, Markezich fell after clearing the last barrier and went down hard on her chest as Wayment (9:06.50) passed Howard (9:07.14) for the runner-up spot.  Markezich ended up sixth in 9:14.87. The top nine finishers recorded personal bests, including Gabbi Jennings (9:12.08), Kaylee Mitchell (9:14.05), Markezich (9:14.87), Allie Ostrander (9:21.82), Rodenfels (9:22.66) and Lexy Halladay (9:22.77). Defending U.S. champ Krissy Gear dropped out after five laps. The race saw major revisions made to the U.S. all-time list, led by Constien, who is now the third-fastest American behind Courtney Frerichs (8:57.77) and Emma Coburn (9:02.35). Frerichs, the Olympic silver medalist in Tokyo, and Coburn, the 2017 world champion who won 10 national titles between 2011 and 2022, both suffered freak injuries this spring and were forced to miss the meet. "Emma and Courtney Frerichs paved the way. Without them we wouldn't have such a high bar," said Constien, who was a teammate of the duo at the 2021 Olympics. "Everyone's inspired by them, and without them there's no way that we could have done what we did here today." Constien's performance capped a remarkable comeback from ACL surgery in May 2023 following an awkward landing at the Doha Diamond League race. She practiced patience with her recovery, resuming running last September, but as recently as April she didn't even expect to be at the Trials, much less contend for an Olympic berth.  A personal best of 9:14.29 at the Prefontaine Classic on May 25, ultimately had her thinking she could actually be a factor in the race. "I never pushed myself. I really just listened to my body, and I was extra picky, took it day by day, did my PT and it just came together at the right time," Constien of her rehab. "But it was really patience. I didn't have to do anything crazy to get here." Wayment, who finished fourth at the 2021 Trials, was confident in her ability to close out the race. "With 300 to go I really relied on my training and I knew we worked very hard to make sure that I could wind down the last couple of laps," she said. "It was crazy to see that there were so many people still there. It's exciting, definitely a fun last 300 meters." Earlier in the evening, all the key contenders in the men's 800 advanced from the first round, with the top six in each heat (plus three time qualifiers) moving on to Friday’s semifinals. Part-time training partners Bryce Hoppel (1:46.83) and Hobbs Kessler (1:46.85) slapped hands in celebration after crossing the line first and second in the opening section. (Kessler had already qualified for Paris in the 1500.) NCAA runner-up Sam Whitmarsh (1:46.13) of Texas A&M, 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Clayton Murphy (1:47.05) and Tinoda Matsatsa (1:46.73) won the other sections. Shane Cohen of the University of Virginia, who took the NCAA title on this track in early June, was seventh entering the homestretch of the fourth heat, but accelerated well to finish third. "I felt strong. The race plan wasn't exactly executed. I was confident with 200 meters I was gonna be fine to make it through to the next rounds," he said. "Legs were definitely a little heavy from not racing for three weeks. It was definitely nice to be out there and get a good race under my belt." Advancing out of the women’s 1500 heats were all three members of the 2021 Olympic team: Elle St. Pierre, Cory McGee and Heather MacLean. Friday's semifinals will also feature Nikki Hiltz, Sinclaire Johnson, Emily Mackay and Elise Cranny, who made the 5000 team on Monday along with St. Pierre. Sage Hurta-Klecker, who finished fifth in Monday's 800 after being thrown off balance in the wake of the collision that sent Athing Mu to the ground, finished second to McGee in the first section. "I knew right away that I was going to come back, but easier said than done, especially coming back to what feels like a secondary event to me, but just trying to bring that self-confidence from the 8 into what used to be my main event," said Hurta-Klecker, who was the NCAA indoor mile champion in 2021 but has focused on the 800 over the past few years. The outpouring of support she’s received on social media and in person in Eugene have helped her regroup. "I can use all that positive energy," she said. Capping off the evening, the men’s 5000 heats featured the winners of the 1500 (Cole Hocker) and 10,000 (Grant Fisher) from earlier in the meet. Hocker languished in the back of the first section for most of the way before moving to the front at the bell. He covered the last lap in 53.11 to win in 13:33.45, followed by NCAA champion Parker Wolfe (13:33.96) of North Carolina, Cooper Teare (13:34.07), Morgan Beadlescomb (13:34.34), Olin Hacker (13:34.72) and Graham Blanks (13:35.00). In the second heat, Fisher camped out in second place most of the way, until 2023 national champ Abdihamid Nur moved to the lead with two laps to go, shaking up the pack. Woody Kincaid (13:23.91), who already qualified for Paris in the 10,000, used his trademark closing speed to pass Nur (13:24.14) shortly before the line and take the win. Fisher (13:24.78), Dylan Jacobs (13:24.91), Sam Prakel (13:25.01) and Sean McGorty (13:25.05) took the remaining automatic spots for Sunday's final.   PHOTO: Val Constien sprinting to victory in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. (Photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)  

(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Published with permission. EUGENE, ORE. (24-Jun) -- On a frenetic night at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials — Track & Field, Cole Hocker and Elle St. Pierre won their events to secure their second Olympic berths, while a chaotic women’s 800 saw a team of newbies book their spots for Paris. The 800 was the final event of the evening at Hayward Field, a showcase for defending Olympic champion Athing Mu. But just as the pack reached the 200-meter mark, with Kristie Schoffield leading, Mu's long legs tangled with Raevyn Rogers's as she moved towards the rail and the New Jersey native fell to the track. By the time she got to her feet she was more than three seconds behind the leaders. Sage Hurta-Klecker had to sidestep the carnage, losing her balance, but staying upright. "I just knew somebody went down, and I was just tunnel vision focused on finishing the race," said reigning national champion Nia Akins who had fallen in the 2021 Olympic Trials. Michaela Rose took control from Schoffield before 400 (57.68) and held the lead as they headed down the backstretch. Just before 600 meters Akins grabbed the lead and steadily pulled away. None of the other women could mount a challenge and the Penn grad won in a personal best of 1:57.36. "I honestly wasn't even thinking," said Akins.  "I just felt it in my spirit to just go for it, and then went. I was like, I hope that works and we were able to pull it off." In the final 100 meters, Allie Wilson and NCAA champion Juliette Whittaker of Stanford battled for the runner-up spot, with Wilson prevailing, 1:58.32 to 1:58.45. Both women got under the Olympic qualifying standard (1:59.30) for the first time. Rose (1:59.32) finished fourth, while Hurta-Klecker (2:00.38) rallied for fifth. Schoffield (2:01.04) finished sixth, ahead of Olympic bronze medalist Raevyn Rogers (2:01.12) and Kate Grace (2:02.37). Mu jogged the final 200 meters, crossing the line tearfully in 2:19.69. In the men's 1500 final, American-record holder Yared Nuguse used a front-running strategy he believed best suited his strength, pushing the tempo through 400 (56.64) and 800 (1:55.73). Behind him, Hobbs Kessler and Vincent Ciattei established --and protected-- their positions. Nuguse still led at 1200 (2:51.33), but moments later Hocker stormed down the backstretch and jumped to a lead he would not surrender. Hocker’s winning time of 3:30.59 smashed the meet record. Nuguse (3:30.86) and Kessler (3:31.53 PB) took the next two spots on the team.  Ciattei (3:31.78), Nathan Green (3:32.20), Henry Wynne (3:32.94), Joe Waskom (3:33.74) and Elliott Cook (3:33.84) followed, all setting PBs. "I was kinda floating in the outside of lane one, I was comfortable there," said Hocker, a former University of Oregon star who finished sixth in the Tokyo Olympics. "I was like, if this is the pace that we're going, I'm happy being here." He defeated Nuguse for the first time since the 2021 Olympic Trials. "I like to win and I definitely want to be the fastest American at the very least," said Hocker, who will contest the 5000 later in the week. "It just happens that one of the best guys in the world is American. But it feels good to win for sure." Nuguse had no regrets for his tactics, even if he couldn't find the final gear needed to win. "I wanted to run a race that I felt like was my race, and I think just really going out and hammering it was the way to go," said Nuguse, who qualified for the Tokyo Games but had to withdraw at the last minute due to a freak quadricep injury he suffered in Japan. "Today Cole got the better of me, but it just shows how good a team is going to be heading into Paris." Kessler, who competed at the 2021 Trials as a high school phenom, was grateful to fulfill the expectations that had followed him the past three years. "I just felt like ever since I signed pro, this is the race that we were all looking to, [that we] figured I would be developed enough and it was my time to start competing on the world stage," he said. "It was a lot of pressure. I'm really proud of how I managed it. The race was hard, Vince was close, but I'm super happy, super relieved, couldn't wait to get this over with." In the women’s 5000, NCAA standout Parker Valby set an honest early tempo through the 1000 (3:00.23) and 2000 (5:58.89), stringing out the field. By 3000 (8:57.57) the pack was down to six: Valby, Elle St. Pierre, Elise Cranny, Karissa Schweizer, Rachel Smith and Whittni Morgan.  They were on pace to all get below the Olympic Games qualifying standard of 14:52.00. As the pace steadily picked up, Smith and Morgan drifted back and it was down to a four-woman race for three Olympic spots. Valby still led at 4000 (11:56.14), but less than 200 meters later, with two laps to go, St. Pierre surged to the front, pulling Cranny and Schweizer with her. Cranny unsuccessfully tried to pass St. Pierre on the final backstretch, so she waited until the final 100 meters to try again. The pair ran side by side to the finish until St. Pierre (14:40.34) held on for the win by a mere two hundredths of a second. "I was relying a bit on my 1500-meter speed," said St. Pierre, who returned from a maternity break this season to resume her status as the top American miler. "I knew it was gonna be a sit-and-kick race, so I had confidence going into the last lap that I could be right there for the finish no matter how fast it went." In addition to her 1500/mile dominance, St. Pierre has flexed her distance muscles this year by winning the gold medal in the 3000 at the world indoor championships in March and lowering her 5000 personal best to 14:34.12 in May (making her the fifth fastest American of all time). Given that the 5000 and 1500 are spaced out at the Trials, a double is feasible. "I had a bit of a change of heart, I didn't originally want to (double)," she admitted. "I think it was a great opportunity. I made my first world team in the 5000 in Doha [in 2019] and to be able to do both here is pretty awesome. I didn't want to give up the opportunity. I think it would have been hard to sit home and watch the 5000 go by. There are enough days to recover and I'm just happy to do both." Though Cranny's string of three straight U.S. titles in the event came to an end, she was pleased to be on her second Olympic team. "It was incredible to race against her," she said of St. Pierre. "We've been watching her run so fast earlier this year, and just the season she's been having, getting the gold medal indoors I was excited to race her because she’s definitely elevating women’s distance running." Schweizer (14:45.12) held on to the third spot on the team, while Valby was rewarded for her hard work with a personal best (14:51.44). Significantly, she dipped under the Olympic qualifying time (14:52.00). Should any of the top three qualify in another event over the second weekend of the Trials, a spot in the 5000 could open up. The women’s 3000-meter steeplechase prelims, also held on Monday, were without 10-time national champion Emma Coburn and Olympic silver medalist Courtney Frerichs, who suffered injuries earlier in the year. In their absence, all the key contenders in a well-matched field moved on to Thursday's final. Kaylee Mitchell won the first heat in 9:29.54, followed by 2021 Olympian Valerie Constien (9:29.61) and Courtney Wayment (9:29.66). Gabbi Jennings (9:23.88) took the second section, followed by Marisa Howard (9:26.38) and Olivia Markezich (9:26.67). Defending U.S. champion Krissy Gear finished sixth after fading mid-race, but grabbed one of the time qualifiers (9:30.92). PHOTO: Cole Hocker winning the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500m in a Trials record 3:30.59 (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)