Nineteen veterans of the World Mountain Running Championships and Trail World Championships are eligible to race in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon coming up February 29 in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosted by the Atlanta Track Club, this event will determine which athletes will represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Bethany Sachtleben at the 2016 World Mountain Running Championships in Bulgaria.
The fastest woman qualifier was Bethany Sachtleben (2:31:20) who help the U.S. women’s team to a gold medal at the 2016 World Mountain Running Championships where she finished 18th. 2011 World Mountain Running Champion Kasie Enman earned her spot by running a 2:44:09 at the 2019 California International Marathon (CIM). Kasie is the only woman to have represented the U.S. at the World Mountain Running Championships (2011, 2015, 2018) World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships (2017) and Trail World Championships (2019).
Kasie Enman winning the 2011 World Mountain Running Championships in Albania.
Also qualifying at CIM was YiOu Wang who ran 2:39:42. YiOu represented the U.S. at the 2016 Trail World Championships in Portugal. Ashley Brasovan burst onto the MUT racing scene in 2017 winning the USATF Half Marathon Trail Championships. Before running a 2:40:19 at CIM to earn her Olympic Trials spot, Ashley finished 8th at the 2018 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Poland. Also representing the US at the 2018 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships was Renee Metivier who ran 2:43:18 at the Honolulu Marathon.
Caitlin (W105) and Ladia (W2) at the 2017 Trail World Championships.
Before running 2:42:40 at CIM, Elizabeth Ryan represented the U.S. at the 2019 Trail World Championships in Portugal. Caitlin Smith ran 2:43:12 at Grandma’s Marathon and showed her trail chops at the 2017 Trail World Championships in Italy. Ladia Albertson-Junkans (2:41:52 – Silo District Marathon) is a veteran of several USATF MUT National Championships and raced for the U.S. at the 2017 Trail World Championships and 2016 World Mountain Running Championships. Rachel Drake (2:40:17 – Grandma’s Marathon) raced at the 2019 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships this past Fall in Argentina. Kristen Findley (2:40:27 – Grandma’s Marathon) raced for the U.S. at the 2019 NACAC Mountain Running Championships in Mexico.
Renee Metivier at the 2018 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Poland.
Other notable mountain, ultra and trail running athletes include 2019 USATF 50 Mile Road Champion Devon Yanko (2:39:38 – Chevron Houston Marathon) who also represented the U.S. at the IAU 100 km World Championships. Camelia Mayfield (2:42:55 – California International Marathon) finished 5th at the 2019 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run and also showed her trail speed finished 5th at the 2015 and 2016 USATF Half Marathon Trail Championships in Lake Padden, WA. Before running 2:44:35 at the Eugene Marathon, Julia Webb was the bronze medalist at the 2016 USATF Half Marathon Trail Championships in Lake Padden, WA. Before running 2:42:14 at CIM, Tara Richardson blazed took top honors at top trail races including 2nd at the 2019 USATF 50 km Road Championships, 2nd at the USATF Trail Marathon Championships and 6th at the 2018 USATF 50 km Trail Championships.
Anthony Costales at the 2018 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Poland.
The fastest MUT runner on the men’s list is Anthony Costales with a 2:13:13 at CIM. Anthony finished 10th at the 2018 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Poland helping the men’s team to a silver medal. Jim Walmsley (1:04:00 – Chevron Houston Half Marathon) burst onto the trail running scene winning the classic Lake Sonoma 50 Mile and went on the win the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run and most recently became the 2019 World Long Distance Mountain Running Champion. Patrick Smyth (2:13:47 – CIM) has won the USATF Mountain Running Championships, USATF Half Marathon Trail Championships and was the top American at the 2014 World Mountain Running Championships finishing 10th.
Patrick Smyth at the 2014 World Mountain Running Championships in Italy.
David Sinclair (2:16:18 – CIM) pulled double duty this past Fall racing back to back days at the World Mountain Running Championships (12th) and World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships (10th). Zachary Ornelas (2:17:24 – CIM) represented the U.S. at the 2019 Trail World Championships at is the reigning USATF 10 km Road Champion. In 2017 Andy Wacker (2:17:34 – NN Marathon Rotterdam) became the first U.S. athlete to race the World Mountain Running Championships, World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships and Trail World Championships.
Tim Chichester at the 2012 World Mountain Running Championships.
Tim Chichester (2:18:06 – Buffalo Marathon) represented the U.S. at the 2012 World Mountain Running Championships after edging out defending World Mountain Running Champion Max King at the all uphill Mt. Washington Road Race. Cole Watson (2:18:07 – CIM) ran for the U.S. at the 2017 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships after winning the USATF 50 km Trail Championships and Lithia Loop Trail Marathon in Oregon. David Fuentes (1:03:37 – Bjorklund Half Marathon) raced at the 2016 World Mountain Running Championships where he helped the men’s team win a gold medal over Italy by one point.
David Fuentes at the 2016 World Mountain Running Championships in Bulgaria.
Qualifying standards can be found on the USA Track & Field website.
260 men qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon. You can find the full list of qualifiers at – Men’s Marathon Performances | Men’s Half Marathon Performances.
511 women qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon. You can find the full list of qualifiers at – Women’s Marathon Performances | Women’s Half Marathon Performances.
