Women's Olympic Trials Marathon
- By Doug Kurtis

The 2004 Women's Olympic Trials Marathon will be held in St. Louis this Saturday. It is part of the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon and Family Fitness Weekend that commemorates the gathering of 32 runners that competed one century ago at the Olympic Games Marathon in our nation's gateway to the west.

The race will begin at 7 am on Washington University's Francis Field, the same place as the 1904 Olympic Marathon. Finishers will cross the timing mats on Government Drive, below the World's Fair Pavilion.   The course is called a criterion or a judged looped course that consists of just over 3.5 loops of 6.88 miles each.

The route is run almost entirely within Forest Park, just west of downtown St. Louis. Setting up a looped course creates better spectator viewing of the athletes.   It also improves control of the US Olympic committee's criteria for commercial rights to the competition.   No promotion on the course is allowed unless authorized by the committee. This prevents "ambush advertising" whereby commercial products are in proximity of cameras without paying for the privilege.

The top twenty Women's Trials winners will take home $250,000 in prize money, including $35,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each women that competes in the Athens Olympic Games.

Dave McGillivray, the Boston Marathon race director will be conducting the race in partnership with Nancy Lieberman, president of the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon weekend host committee.   St. Louis is organizing a separate marathon, half marathon and 5km the following day that is open to everyone.

143 American women have met the 2 hour and 48 minutes qualifying time for the Marathon Trials. To be eligible for the Olympic team the top three must run under the new Olympic "A" standard time of 2:37 prior to the Games. Previously it was 2:32. The trials winner is eligible to go to the games as long as she meets the "B" standard of 2:42.

USA Track and Field, the governing body of long distance running will ensure that the Trials are conducted according to Olympic committee rules. This includes each competitor's outfit. Vest, shorts, socks and other gear are limited to a maximum size for the manufacturer's logo and registered club names may appear on the women's singlet to particular specifications. The open marathon on Sunday has no such restrictions.

Several women have dominated the American marathoning world the last few years. Deena Drossin Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, California has the credentials to blow away the field.   Her qualifying time of 2:21:16 is six minutes ahead of her nearest rival Marla Runyan.   Marla is probably best known for her gallant fourth place performances at the New York City Marathon. Runyan was diagnosed with Stargardt's disease and is considered legally blind. Both women have set American records for various distances over the past several years. Two other standouts include Boulder's Colleen De Reuck and a sentimental favorite will be 1984 Olympic Marathon Gold Medal winner Joan Benoit Samuelson. Former Michigan native Cindy Keeler has competed in all five Olympic Trials and expects to compete for her adopted state, Florida.

The Hanson's Distance Project team has two athletes competing.   Monica Hostetler and Carly Graytock are two of five women in the newly funded project. Other Michigan competitors include Sarah Plaxton of Highland and Anne Flynn of Augusta.

Sadly, like the Men's Marathon Trials, there will be no national TV coverage of the events. Both Running Times and Runner's World web sites will post delayed mile-by-mile composites of the race.

FYI: Lisa Rainsberger a former U of Michigan Track and Cross Country star was recently inducted into the Road Runners Club of America Hall of Fame.   Rainsberger won the Crim 10 mile race three times but is probably best known for missing selection to the Women's Olympic Marathon team by one place three times.