RunColo

After the Olympic trials marathon, LetsRun listed the top-5 contenders for the 2016 men’s Olympic trials marathon. Thinking about it, I started to wonder what Colorado runners are contenders to make it to the 2016 trials? Certainly the 2012 trials qualifiers are the most likely, but behind them, what up-and-coming younger runners could snag a spot in their first trials? Assuming that the men’s qualifying mark stays at 2:19, or even if it drops to the rumored 2:18, and assuming that the women’s mark drops to 2:42 or even on down to 2:39, here’s who we could see in the 2016 trials representing Colorado.

Men

Kenny Foster – The U.S. Army member ran a 2:19:49 PR at this year’s Cal International Marathon to just miss qualifying. He’s only 25, so if he can continue to manage the U.S. Army schedule, he should be primed for a 2016 trials berth.

Jeremy Freed – The 2011 BolderBoulder citizen’s race winner ran 1:05:06 at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Vegas Half to just miss a spot in this year’s trials race. Like the others on this list, he's young, just 24, and has plenty of time to work towards the marathon standard.

Charles Hillig – The 25-year-old from Denver ran 2:19:23 at CIM, his third marathon (and second in less than two months). If he can keep it up for four more years, continued improvement is almost guaranteed.

Glenn Randall – Clocked a 2:20:40 at this year’s Chicago Marathon, his debut marathon. For him, qualifying for the trials in 2016 would likely mean choosing running over Nordic skiing.

Matt Tebo – CU alum who has yet to race beyond 10K, but has PRs faster than anyone else on this list.

Women

Kara Lubieniecki – A recent Chico State grad and a new member of the Runner’s Roost team, she ran 4:28 (1500m) and 16:47 (5000m) as a collegiate.

Nuta Olaru – A new U.S. citizen, Olaru just missed running in this year’s trials race. At age 41, she ran 2:37 in the next day’s Houston Marathon, matching the time she ran a month earlier at CIM. Even with the qualifying standards expected to drop and her PR days gone, she’ll likely still be running sub-2:42 in four years.

Laura Thweatt – CU alum who was 6^th at this year’s U.S. Club Cross Country Championships. With 15:57 and 33:49 speed for 5000m and 10000m, she should be an easy trials qualifier, if she decides to step up in distance.