Olympic Marathon Trials

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NEW YORK (AP) -- Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein and Brian Sell won spots on the men's marathon team for the Beijing Olympics, finishing 1-2-3 Saturday at the U.S. trials on a blustery day.

The top three made the Olympics in the marathon for the first time, prevailing in a field of 131 that included Meb Keflezighi, silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics.

Hall, bellowing over the final mile with his victory ensured, had never run a marathon before April. He won in a trials record time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 2 seconds after making five loops around Central Park. He was followed by Ritzenhein in 2: 11:07 and Sell in 2: 11:40.
"It was really tough out there, and I'm proud to represent America," Hall said. "We have quite a team."

Khalid Khannouchi, the 35-year-old former world-record-holder who has never made an Olympic team, was fourth, nearly a minute behind Sell. Khannouchi, who has battled injuries, could earn a spot on the squad if Ritzenhein later qualifies in the 10,000 meters and chooses to compete in that race instead in Beijing.

Keflezighi was in the lead pack for much of the race but fell back to eighth.

Hall broke away from the leading pack of five runners at about the 17th mile. He looked relaxed and fresh the entire race, pumping his fists as he drew closer to the finish.

Hall came to Stanford as a miler but steadily moved up to longer distances over the years. He resisted each shift and finally came to realize the marathon was his race.

Hall served notice he could compete with the world's best when he made the fastest marathon debut by an American, finishing eighth against an elite field in London in April.

Ryan Hall looked like he had finished a 5K instead of a marathon, he was fast, and his stride was open and loose. he will be unstoppable in Beijing if he continues training well and stays healthy. It was so Awesome to see the Brooks/Hanson team represented on the podium by Brian Sell. That team truly represents the Olympic ideal in the modern era of semi-pro and pro athletes competing in the supposedly amateur games. I will pray that he stays healthy and is able to compete to the best of his ability.


In a sad note,

NEW YORK -- Ryan Shay, 28, a native of Ypsilanti, Mich., died today during the running of the 2008 Olympic marathon trials, a press source told NBCOlympics.com.

"We have absolutely tragic news confirmed that Ryan Shay passed away today," said Mary Wittenberg, the CEO of New York Road Runners.

Shay collapsed and was taken off the course near East 75th Street in Manhattan, around the five-mile mark in the race. He received immediate medical attention, but responders were not able to revive him.

"There were several layers of medical response," she said. "It was very quick."

Wittenberg said Shay was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital and was pronounced dead at 8:46 a.m.

"It cuts a knife through everybody's hearts," Wittenberg said.

Shay was a favorite heading into the 2004 trials, but his goals of making it to the Olympics were hampered by a hamstring strain, and he finished 23rd. He was the 2003 U.S. marathon champion and was third at this year's U.S. 25K championships. He also won the U.S. half marathon in 2003 and 2004. Shay was the U.S. 20,000m road racing champion in 2004, making him a four-time national champion.

"He was a tremendous champion who was here today to pursue his dreams," said Craig Masback, chief executive of U.S. track and field's governing body. "The Olympic trials is traditionally a day of celebration, but we are heartbroken."

When he captured the 2001 NCAA 10,000m title in 2001, it marked the first national individual title in track for Notre Dame. Shay graduated from Notre Dame in 2002.

"It's a big loss for the running community," said 2004 women's marathon Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor, who once trained with Shay. "It's a day we should be celebrating. It has cast a pall. The distance running community is very close."

Shay was married July 7 of this year to Alicia Craig -- a professional distance runner, two-time NCAA champion and the collegiate 10,000m record-holder during her days running at Stanford -- who he met in 2005 at the New York City marathon. Alicia was hoping to earn a ticket to Beijing to compete in the women's 10,000 meters.

"My thoughts and prayers just go out to them and their family," said winner Ryan Hall, who is good friends with Alicia. "It's a sad thing."

"We ask you to join us in extending our very deepest condolences to Alicia, to Ryan's family and the Notre Dame running community," Wittenberg said. "It's certainly not the way we expected any part of the race to go."

And on another sad note, NBC coverage of the trials was worse than abysmal. it was absent. Oh wait, they had an exerpt on after some infomertials at 2 PM. At least we got to see some coverage.