Dathan Ritzenhein knows what it’s like to make an Olympic team. He also knows what it’s like to fear that it’s all over: the 29-year-old spent much of 2011 fighting a gruesome Achilles tendon injury that put his career in peril. Last winter, Ritzenhein was bothered by an irritated sheath of his Achilles tendon. As
Growing up on a dirt road in rural West Virginia in a house with no TV, Clara Grandt was up and out early every summer morning with her five brothers and sisters to bike, hike to the tops of nearby hills, or swim in the creek. The only thing that would lure them back inside
Residence: Flagstaff, AZ Hometown: Greece, NY Age on race day: 27 Best Qualifying Performance: 2:13:12, Duluth, 2011 PRs: Half-Marathon, 1:03:59 (2009); Marathon, 2:13:12 (2011) Olympic Trials Marathon History: Debut
Residence: Minneapolis, MN Hometown: Belmond, IA Age on race day: 33 Best Qualifying Performance: 2:13:28, Duluth, 2011 PRs: Half-Marathon, 1:03:44 (2010); Marathon, 2:13:28 (2011) Olympic Trials Marathon History: Debut
Residence: Flagstaff, AZ Hometown: Fountain Valley, CA Age on race day: 28 Best Qualifying Performance: 2:11:30, Houston, 2011 PRs: Half-Marathon, 1:03:22 (2010); Marathon, 2:11:30 (2011) Olympic Trials Marathon History: 17th – 2:17:08 (2008)
Residence: Mammoth Lakes, CA Hometown: Asmara, Eritrea Age on race day: 36 Best Qualifying Performance: 2:09:13, New York, 2011 PRs: Half-Marathon, 1:01:00 (2009); Marathon, 2:09:13 (2011) Olympic Trials Marathon History: 8th – 2:15:09 (2008); 2nd – 2:11:47 (2004) Career Highlights: Silver Medalist, 2004 Olympic Marathon (2:11:29) 12th – 2000 Olympic Games, 10,000m 1st – 2009
Residence: Minneapolis, MN Hometown: St. Charles, MO Age on race day: 34 Best Qualifying Performance: 2:12:24, Boston, 2010 PRs: Half-Marathon, 1:02:32 (2008); Marathon, 2:12:24 (Boston 2010) Olympic Trials Marathon History: 5th, 2008 (2:12:54); 10th, 2004 (2:16:27) Career Highlights: 1st – 2011 Ohme 30K Road Race 2nd – 2011 USA 20K Championships 9th – 2010 Boston
Residence: Portland, OR Hometown: Rockford, MI Age on race day: 29 Best Qualifying Performance: 2:10:00, London, 2009 PRs: Half-Marathon, 1:00:00 (2009); Marathon, 2:10:00 (2009) Olympic Trials Marathon History: 2nd – 2:11:07 (2008) Career Highlights: 2004 Olympian at 10,000m 9th – 2008 Olympic Games Marathon, 2:11:59 (top American) 3-time USA Cross Country Champion, 12K (2005, 2008,
Residence: Boulder, CO Hometown: Rockford, MI Age on race day: 30 Best Qualifying Performance: 2:11:06, Chicago, 2010 PRs: Half-Marathon, 1:03:07 (2006); Marathon, 2:11:06 (2010) Olympic Trials Marathon History: 10th – 2:15:27 (2008) Career Highlights: 1st – 2009 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon (2:12:09) 8th – 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon (2:11:06 PR) 4th – USA
Residence: Mammoth Lakes, CA Hometown: Rock Springs, WY Age on race day: 25 Best Qualifying Performance: 1:02:01 (USA Half Marathon Championships, 2010) PRs: Half-Marathon, 1:02:01 (2010); Marathon, Debut Olympic Trials Marathon History: Debut Career Highlights: 3rd – 2011 USA Half Marathon Championships (Aramco Houston, 1:02:32) 2nd – 2010 USA Half Marathon Championships (Aramco Houston, 1:02:01
