On a blustery Saturday in Atlanta, the top three finishers of the Olympic Marathon Trials qualified to compete at the Tokyo Games.
Aliphine Tuliamuk, Molly Seidel, and Sally Kipyego were the top three finishers at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials on Saturday in Atlanta, earning their place on Team USA and a chance to compete in August at the Tokyo Games.
Tuliamuk, 30, is a member of Northern Arizona Elite, based in Flagstaff, Arizona. She came in with a 2:26:50 qualifying time, her personal best. She’s a nine-time national champion but this is her first Olympic team.
Seidel, 25, makes the team in her debut at 26.2 miles. She qualified to compete at the Trials by way of a 1:09:35 half marathon.
Kipyego, 34, trained for the Trials in her native Kenya, where her family could help with childcare for her daughter, Emma, born in 2017. She’s a member of the Oregon Track Club Elite, based in Eugene, Oregon. She won a silver medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2012 Olympics, representing Kenya. Kipyego became a U.S. citizen in 2017.
The winner of the Trials takes home an $80,000 paycheck. Second place wins $65,000, and third takes $55,000. Prize money is awarded through eighth place.
The 2020 Marathon Trials featured the largest women’s field in history, with 511 who qualified to race. In order to earn a place on the start line, women had to run an “A” standard of 2:37:00 or faster or a “B” standard of 2:45:00 or faster (or a 1:13:00 half marathon).
This story will be updated—check back for more analysis and the athletes’ perspective as it becomes available.