There was a shootout in Houston, Texas yesterday and after the smoke cleared, only six remained. Say hello to your 2012 USA Olympic Marathon Team: Meb Keflezighi, Ryan Hall, Abdi Abdirahman, Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Davila and Kara Goucher.

American distance running has come a long way in the “second running boom” and that was evident in the streets of Houston. In two of the fastest races in USA Olympic Marathon Trials history (four men under 2:10 and five women under 2:30), these six set the pace for what could be a very promising summer in London.

From the outset, it was pretty obvious that two of the three slots for both the men and women would be filled by the favorites, barring some unforeseen incident (Meb and Ryan; Shalane and Desiree). The only question left was who would get the coveted third slot on London. While the American running scene is not nearly as deep as say the Kenyan or Ethiopian teams, there was a strong contingent of runners that really had a good shot at it.

I wasn’t totally sold on Abdi Abdirahman halfway thru the race. I’ve watched him in big races before start strong but finish off the pace (I will give him this though, Abdi does have a badass nickname: the Black Cactus). Was Dathan Ritzenhein going to come back after falling back of the lead pack? Would another young runner throw his hat into the ring and barge onto the American marathon scene? All of these seemed moot after Dathan fell way back but did make it interesting at the end coming up just 8 seconds short of catching Abdi.

The women’s field was more stout halfway thru the race with a dozen women leading the way. While Shalane and Desiree did most of the work, we had some interesting names in the lead pack. Kara Goucher, Amy Hastings and Deena Kastor were still in the hunt for the third spot. Deena fell back towards the end (finishing in sixth) while Kara held on and Amy had to settle for disappointing fourth place.

Overall, I think USA Track and Field should be fairly optimistic about the marathon team they’re sending across the Atlantic. While I don’t think the men will be able to knock off Geoffrey Mutai and Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya or Tsegaye Kebede or Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia, I do think they will at least give the USA a fighting chance at a couple of top tens and maybe…just maybe sneak onto the medal stand. The women are a totally different story altogether. I could absolutely see Shalane, Desiree and Kara competing for the top spot. You’re looking at three young runners with a ton of potential. Especially in Shalane’s case. She’s only run in two competitive marathons and the future is looking very, very bright.

Congratulations Team USA!!! We can’t wait to see you shine.

RMFR

Charles Krupa/AP

The 2011 Boston Marathon was one of the more historic races in recent history. The men’s wheelchair division was decided by a mere 1 second, the woman’s marathon by 2 seconds and the men’s marathon by 4 seconds. Are you serious?

The men’s marathon champion, Geoffrey Mutai, shattered the course record and shaved :58 seconds off the marathon world record (Haile Gebrselassie in Berlin 2008) there is now a storm brewing.

The Boston Marathon is not considered a a world record qualifying course because the marathon route is “downhill” and too “straight.” Throw it a predomently tailwind and all hell has broken loose. The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) is asking the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to certify Mutai’s performance as the world record.

As fellow Lobe, Troy Schrenk can attest, Boston is no walk/run in the park. Besides the net loss of elevation, there are many rolling hills that make the race one of the more difficult marathons on the major marathon circuit.

There’s a reason that elite marathoners opt for races like the Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and London Marathon to attack world records. They’re easier. Also, Boston (along with the New York City Marathon) don’t allow pace setters. This means that the athlete has to actually get the record based on their own talent and determination.

TANGENT ALERT!!! I don’t have any problem with pace setters. They make for a less tactical race and make the elites throw it down from the start. What I do have a problem with is the fact that the pace setters are contractual obligated to bow out at a specific point of the race. If a pace setter can lead a pack out on record pace and then hold that pace for the entire race…I say let them go for it!!! During the Rotterdam Marathon, Sammy Kitwara set the pace for the marathon field. He was constantly egging the field to keep up with him during his reign at the front of the pack. He should have been allowed to throw down the hammer and finish the race. From the look of it, he could have wiped the rest of the elites out that day.

The majority of the running community is standing by Mutai’s record and I for one hope that the IAAF certify’s it as one of runnings great accomplishments.

RMFR