Joan, at age 50 and still competing, will be running in what may be her final U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston on Sunday, April 20. With her definitive running gait, she will be acknowledged and cheered on by the knowledgeable and appreciative Boston crowds. This year, the women’s trials will be run on a multiple loop course through Back Bay and along Memorial Drive. It will be spectator friendly and fans will see the race unfold and cheer on the 2008 U.S. Women’s Team competing in Bejjing. The biggest cheers, and deservedly so, likely will be for Joan, as her contributions to the sport of women’s running are well acknowledged.
Emily LeVan, Kirsten Barry and Sheri Piers are also competing. Emily, a former Bowdoin field hockey All American player, won the Maine Marathon in 2002, then set a state all-comers’ record of 2:39:54 at the same race in 2004. She was the first American woman to finish the 2005 Boston Marathon, which earned her a spot on that summer’s U.S. World Championship team, where she set a personal record of 2:38:32. At the 2006 Boston Marathon, she lowered her PR to 2:37:01 and again was the first American. Many people are familiar with Emily, her daughter Maddie, and the family’s courageous and inspirational battle against Maddie’s lymphoma. Emily’s TwoTrials organization raises money for The Maine Children’s Cancer Program and she is well on her way of achieving her family’s goal of $52,400.
Kirsten was an Ivy League 10,000-meter champion while competing for Dartmouth College. As a marathon runner she has made great strides since running 2:56:46 back in 2002. Last November she ran a PR of 2:45:37, tying for ninth in Philadelphia with her training partner, Sheri Piers, to qualify for this year’s trials.
During the year of the last Women’s Olympic Trials, Sheri was making her marathon debut in 3:23:19 at the Maine Marathon. Since then she has sliced nearly 40 minutes from that time, having run 2:45:37 at Philadelphia.
These women and mothers who are competing to make it to Bejjing, have a legitimate shot at being in the top 10 to 20 finishers, which would be a terrific accomplishment. Come join Emily, Kirsten and Sheri for a TwoTrials “Fund Run” and to hear about their training and approach to the trials, Thursday, April 3, at 6 pm at Maine Running Company.
You go girls!
John Rogers is the owner of Maine Running Company on Forest Ave. in Portland. Send questions or comments to him at jr@mainerunning.com or check out the store’s website at www.mainerunning.com.