2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon

In their Words          Results

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IN THEIR WORDS

Chelsea Benson (163rd; 2:47:05)

I train with Bailey and Ellie so it was great to come down as a team. The atmosphere at the Trials was incredible. The Atlanta Track Club really knows how to put on an A+ event. They treated all the qualifiers, both A & B, like professional athletes. Lining up with 450 women was really empowering. I actually gave Molly Seidel a sip of water at the start since all the half marathon qualifiers started in Gate 3. She was super sweet and nervous!
 
As far as the race, the pack was huge and I definitely got caught up in the wave. The first 2 miles the fans were so loud that my ears hurt. Even when we started to spread out, the fans still screamed for everyone. Literally a 26.2 mile scream tunnel. For me, the race didn't go quite as I had hoped. My goal was to get close to my seed (121) and maybe break into the top 100. However, I had a lot of trouble fueling. Every sip of my fluids left me gagging so I didn't end up taking in hardly anything during the race, which is a really bad idea! Between the wind, hills, and lack of fuel, I totally bonked at mile 20. Women were stepping off the course and I was tempted to do the same. But I gritted it out and went into survival mode, taking it mile by mile and trying to enjoy the experience as best I could. I finished 163rd with a time of 2:47:05. Far from my best, but happy for the experience. I'll be looking to run some shorter, faster races this spring and take a break from marathon racing, but I hope to make the Trials again as a Masters runner! 

Ellie Pell (121st; 2:44:59)

It was the most magical weekend of my life. Everything was taken care of for both my sister and I. I could relax (and did!) the days leading up because I knew what was going on.  The race was exactly as it was billed. It was hilly, windy and the roads we’re in need of work. However, personally I relished in it all. I was at the Olympic Trials! Never in a MILLION YEARS would I have believed that even a year ago.   My first loop was spent in a blissfully happy place surrounded by the best runners in the country. How could it get better? The second loop got hard and the discomfort began to build. I focused on controlling what I could and getting to the last loop.  The final loop was a pain train, but I never once thought of dropping. This race is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing. Unless I were to break something, finishing was important to me. There might not be a next time (as 2020 is looking...)  I finished in 2:44:59 and my second fastest time ever. My training leading up wasn’t too confidence boosting (winter sucks) so I was surprised I pulled that of.   Considering how the rest of 2020 is shaping up, I am happy to have gone out with a race like that.

Read more about Ellie's race in Atlanta here - A Race in Atlanta
 

NIAGARA RESULTS SCOREBOARD

complete results:  women | men

Place	Name	Bib #	Age	City, State	Affilation
WOMEN
66	Bailey Drewes	111	27	Ithaca, NY		2:42:11
121	Ellie Pell	181	28	Interlaken, NY	Red Newt Racing	2:44:59
163	Chelsea Benson	121	37	Ithaca, NY	Red Newt Racing	2:47:05
191	Melissa Hardesty	364	42	Binghamton, NY		2:48:31
DNF	Molly Huddle	9	35	Providence, RI	Saucony	-
MEN
85	Tim Chichester	173	31	Hornell, NY	Genesee Valley Harriers	2:23:19
165	Samuel Morse	174	36	Camden, NY	Syracuse TC	2:40:26
DNF	Daniel Lennon	69	25	Morrisonville, NY		-