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U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon
U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon
Just a Matter of the Right Time and the Right Day
By George Banker
November December 2011
It was only a matter of time for local ultra-marathoner, Michael Wardian, 37, of Arlington, VA, to achieve yet another milestone in his running career.
His profession is an international ship broker for Potomac Maritime, LLC, out of Georgetown (Washington, DC). In addition to working full time, he is a family man with a supportive wife, Jennifer, and two young sons, Pierce and Grant. Anyone in this sport can understand the challenges of balancing work, family, and the passion for the sport of running. He does it all and he travels not only locally, but across the country and even worldwide to compete and represent the United States at national events.
This past June, at Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN, Wardian was going to tow the line and run with the best. His goal: achieve the standard of 2:19:00 to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials to be held in Houston, TX in January 2012.
Until the first foot strike anything was possible. Wardian shows no fear in the face of competition and accepts each event as an opportunity to test himself and to learn from the experience.
Wardian dialed up the 2:19:00 all right! He clocked a 2:17:49 and by all accounts that can be chalked up to a success. The following are some of the stats from the race:
Average Pace: 5:16
Overall Place: 13 out of 6,336
Splits: 32:04 (10K); 1:08:06 (13.1); 1:44:10 (20 miles); 2:11:02 (25 miles)
Looking back, in 1996 when Wardian was 22 and ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 3:06:54, who would have guessed that this lanky runner with a trademark ponytail would improve steadily and collect numerous honors such as: IAU Ultra Runner of the Year 2010, USATF Ultra Runner of the Year 2008, 2009, and 2010. Also, USATF National Champion at the 50K, 50 mile, and 100K distances. His accomplishments can fill up several pages.
Sponsored by MarathonGuide.com, The North Face, and PowerBar, he is a highly visible runner within the Potomac Valley Association and competes in numerous Mid-Atlantic races of all distances. He has been a great spokesperson for the sport of running.
Come January, Wardian will be standing with America’s finest male marathoners at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Each person on the starting line will have earned a right to be there.
The Potomac Valley Association extends its congratulations to Wardian and all the Mid-Atlantic runners whose outstanding performances made the cut. Anything is possible and, until you try, you will never know the outcome.
Qualifiers Update: U.S. Olympic Team Trials–Marathon
The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the marathon will be held in Houston, TX on January 14, 2012. For many runners, this is the pinnacle of their career and a dream just to be on the stage among the top three men and three women who will earn the honor of representing the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The qualifying window is from January 1, 2009 until 30 days prior to the Trials race. These are the time standards:
Men A
Marathon 2:19:00
Half Marathon 1:05:00
10,000m (track) 28:30
Women A B
Marathon 2:39:00 2:46:00
Half Marathon 1:15:00
10,000m (track) 33:00
Additional details on the Trials and standards can be found at www.houston2012.com and www.usatf.org. As of press time, here are the runners with connections to: DC, MD, VA, plus our surrounding region of DE, PA, and WV.
MEN Qualifying Time – Race - Year
Jeffrey Eggleston
2:13:12 – Grandma’s Marathon 2011
College: University of Virginia
John Crews
2:16:46 – Under Armour Baltimore Marathon 2010
Hometown: VA
Mike McKeeman
2:17:42 - Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2009
Hometown: Lansdale, PA
Christopher Raabe
2:15:13 - Grandma’s Marathon 2009
College: George Washington University
Current residence: DC
Luke Watson
2:15:29 - Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon 2009
Current residence: PA
Brian Sell
2:16:31 - B.A.A. Boston Marathon 2009
Current residence: PA
Michael Wardian
2:17:49 - Grandma’s Marathon 2011
Current residence: VA
Allen Wagner
2:17:49 - USA Marathon Championship 2009
Current residence: PA
Bobby Curtis
1:01:53 – 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon
College: Villanova
Current residence: PA
Sean Quigley
1:03:23 - IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 2010
Current residence: PA
Josh Simpson
1:03:27 - USA Half Marathon Championships 2010
College: West Virginia University
Ricky Flynn
1:04:14 – 2011 Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon
Current residence: VA
Dave Nightingale
1:04:29 - USA Half Marathon Championships 2011
Current residence: DC
Christopher Clark
1:04:38 - USA Half Marathon Championships 2010
College: California University (PA)
Current residence: PA
Daniel Nunn
28:24 - Stanford Invitational 2009
College: Georgetown
Women Qualifying Time Race Year
Kristen Nicolini
2:35:05 – 2009 USA Women’s Marathon Championships
Hometown: MD
Kathy Newberry
2:35:23 - USA Marathon Championships 2010
Hometown: VA/College: Coach at William & Mary
Amanda Rice
2:38:57 – Grandma’s Marathon 2011
Current residence: MD
Esther Erb
2:39:47 – Maraton Ciudad de Sevilla
Hometown: VA
Veena Reddy
2:41:17 – P.F. Chang’s Rock’n’Roll Marathon (AZ) 2010
Current residence: VA/Post Graduate: Univ. of Pennsylvania
Louise Knudson
2:42:42 – B.A.A. Boston Marathon 2011
Current residence: VA
Lucinda Smith
2:43:43 – Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon 2011
Current residence: MD
Melissa Rittenhouse
2:43:46 - Chevron Houston Marathon 2010
Current residence: VA
Emily Hulme
2:44:30 - Philadelphia Marathon 2010
Current residence: PA
Mandy Yates
2:44:38 Wineglass Marathon 2011
Current residence: MD
Erin Richard
2:44:38 - Chevron Houston Marathon 2011
Hometown: PA / College: Clarion University (PA)
Carol Jefferson
2:44:44 - Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon 2010
Current residence: PA
Jen Modliszewski
2:44:50 – Grandma’s Marathon
Hometown: VA
Lisa Thomas
2:45:02 – Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2011
Current residence: VA
Emily Potter
2:45:14 - Grandma’s Marathon 2010
Hometown: VA
Christa Plummer
2:45:17 - Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon 2010
Hometown: Quakertown, PA
Renee High
2:45:29 - Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2010
Hometown and Current residence: VA
Phebe Ko
2:45:50 - Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon 2010
Current residence: MD
Heidi Peoples
2:45:51 - B.A.A. Boston Marathon 2010
Current residence: PA
Clara Grandt
1:13:13 - 2011 USA Half Marathon Championships
Current residence: MD
(Editor’s Note: We will update this feature in our Jan/Feb 2012 issue and WRR will be in Houston, TX to provide online and print coverage--and to cheer on all runners, especially our Mid-Atlantic contingency.)