In an earlier blog I wrote about Runner's World predicting the top two likely finishers in Saturday's Olympic trial race (NBC, 1pm EST, also live streaming).
For the women they have Shalane Flanagan winning, Desiree Linden second (10th at Boston 2015, second in 2011, second at 2012 trials) and then a race between eight other women for the third spot. The favored contenders include; Deena Kastor (now 42, but a three-time qualifier and bronze medalist), Kara Goucher (two half-marathons last year in 1:11, but now 37), Sara Hall (wife of Olympian Ryan Hall) and Lauren Kleppin, who isn't a household name but ran a 2:28:48 at the L.A. marathon last year.
It's hard to know who's totally healthy, can take the heat of Los Angeles, and won't let nerves get to them, but I'm going with Shalane, Desiree and Kellyn Taylor (2:28pr, another relative unknown runner at the elite level).
A bit unbelievable, but the favored male is 40 year old Meb Keflezighi, winner of NYC 2009 and Boston 2014 who has a 2:08pr. Unbelievable because it seems we should have someone besides forty-year old Meb as the top contender. It was nice to read a short piece on Jeffrey Eggleston, from Rochester, NY who ran a 1:02 half-marathon in 2015 (Houston) and won the Chicago half-marathon in July on a windy day in 1:05. Jeff is listed with 8-1 odds of making the team.
I'm going with Meb, Dathan Ritzenhein (same as Runner's World) and Eggleston as the surprise third place finisher. I have to support the local runner.
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