Brett Ely Wins the Miami Marathon and Qualifies for the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials Women's Marathon
1/31/2010
Brett Ely became the third B.A.A. woman to qualify for the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials Women's Marathon with her win at the Miami Marathon on January 31, 2010. Her time of 2:45:36 was below the "B" standard time of 2:46:00 and gave her the victory by almost 2 1/2 minutes. Her time was even more impressive given the 70-degree temperatures and high humidity that greeted runners at the start.
Two other B.A.A. women have previously qualified for the US Olympic Team Trials Women's Marathon: In October, Heather Cappello became the first B.A.A. qualifier with her 2:43:58 at the USATF Marathon Championship, hosted by the Twin Cities Marathon. Heidi Westerling was the second qualifier, also meeting the "B" standard by virtue of her 1:12:59 at the USATF Half Marathon Championships, hosted by the Houston Half Marathon on January , 2010.
Both Westerling and Ely competed at the 2008 US Olympic Team Trials Women's Marathon in Boston on April 20, 2008. Westerling was 26th overall in that race in a time of 2:41:09; Ely was 34th in 2:41:54. the 2012 US Olympic Trials will mark Cappello's first appearance in the marathon trials event. Her qualifying race at Twin Cities was only her second attempt at the distance.
The date and site of the 2012 USA Olympic Team Trials Women's Marathon is to be determined.
