Houston streets helped determine who will be running the marathon in London at the 2012 Olympics.
The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials was held Saturday morning.
More than 300 of the fastest distance runners in the country competed in the 26.2-mile, three-loop course that started and ended in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center.
The top three male finishers -- -- and top three female finishers -- -- made the U.S. Olympic team, pending final approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee's board of directors.
The athletes' next stop is the 2012 Olympics in London.
Five of the six reigning U.S. Olympians competed in the race -- Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein, Deena Kastor, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, and Blake Russell. They were joined by 2004 marathon team members Meb Keflezighi, Colleen De Reuck, and Jen Rhines, and 1996 Olympic marathoner Linda Somers Smith. Keflezighi and Kastor are both 2004 Olympic medalists, with Keflezighi winning silver and Kastor bringing home the bronze.
In addition to a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, athletes competed for a prize purse totaling $250,000 in each race, plus bonuses. The men’s and women’s champion will each take home $50,000.
NBC will broadcast two hours of coverage from 2 to 4 p.m. CT Saturday. The comprehensive coverage will be the first time that both men's and women's Olympic Trials have been televised on the same day.
The 2012 Olympics will be broadcast on NBC and KPRC Local 2, beginning July 27.
As part of the Olympic Trials, Discovery Green became the temporary home to Trials Town, an interactive fan festival featuring the "Road to London Tour." Trials Town is open for all ages and teaches what it takes to achieve the Olympic dream.
Trials Town is open until 4 p.m. Saturday.
On Sunday, the 40th anniversary of the Chevron Houston Marathon will take place in downtown Houston beginning at 7 a.m.
-
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
No comments:
Post a Comment