McKaig places eighth in Olympic trials
Jeff Eason
Four Blowing Rock runners placed among the top finishers during the Jan. 14 Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston, Texas.
Alissa McKaig, a distance runner who trains at ZAP Fitness in Blowing Rock, finished eighth in the women’s marathon trials with a time of 2 hours, 31 minutes and 56 seconds (2:31:56).
Her ZAP Fitness teammate Esther finished in 27th place with a time of 2:37:12.
The three top finishers in the marathon trials are slated to be the competitors representing the United States in the Summer Olympics in London, England, this year.
Shalane Flanagan came in first with a time of 2:25:38; Desiree Davila came in second (2:25:55); and Kara Goucher came in third (2:26:06). Both Flanagan and Goucher represent the race team Oregon TC Elite, while Davila ran for the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project.
In the men’s marathon trial, ZAP fitness runners Jesse Cherry and Chris Clark came in 29th and 82nd, respectively, with times of 2:16:13 and 2:30:10.
The race was won by Meb Keflezighi of the New York Athletic Club with a time of 2:09:08.
Unattached runners Ryan Hall and Abdi Abdirahman came in second and third, respectively, with times of 2:09:30 and 2:09:47.
They will represent the United States in London this summer.
Alissa McKaig, a distance runner who trains at ZAP Fitness in Blowing Rock, finished eighth in the women’s marathon trials with a time of 2 hours, 31 minutes and 56 seconds (2:31:56).
Her ZAP Fitness teammate Esther finished in 27th place with a time of 2:37:12.
The three top finishers in the marathon trials are slated to be the competitors representing the United States in the Summer Olympics in London, England, this year.
Shalane Flanagan came in first with a time of 2:25:38; Desiree Davila came in second (2:25:55); and Kara Goucher came in third (2:26:06). Both Flanagan and Goucher represent the race team Oregon TC Elite, while Davila ran for the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project.
In the men’s marathon trial, ZAP fitness runners Jesse Cherry and Chris Clark came in 29th and 82nd, respectively, with times of 2:16:13 and 2:30:10.
The race was won by Meb Keflezighi of the New York Athletic Club with a time of 2:09:08.
Unattached runners Ryan Hall and Abdi Abdirahman came in second and third, respectively, with times of 2:09:30 and 2:09:47.
They will represent the United States in London this summer.