For the second time in her storied career, Alysia Montano will compete in a national championship while pregnant.  

Before the declaration deadline on Monday night, Montano confirmed to FloTrack that she planned to compete in the 800m at the USATF Outdoor Championships which begin this Thursday in Sacramento, CA. Three years ago at the same facility, Montano competed while eight months pregnant with her first child, Linnea. 

The seven-time national champion wasn't running to win. She didn't even expect to make it out of the first round. But she knew it was important to show up on the line. 

"We see so many people in different avenues of their life start their family and it looks so different for a professional athlete, especially a female professional athlete," Montano said after finishing in 2:32.13 to a standing ovation from the crowd in 2014. 

"This is what it looks like to be a professional athlete as a woman and still continuing on with your career….this is my normal this year," she said. 



In April, she announced her second pregnancy in a video featuring her husband, Louis, and her now two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. They are expecting their second child in November. 

pic.twitter.com/ZnUPGE7n9G

— Alysia Montao (@AlysiaMontano) April 26, 2017

Montano has only raced once this year--a 1:09.55 personal best in the 500m at the Millrose Games last February--but she qualified based on her 2:00.20 time in the semifinal at the 2016 Olympic Trials last July. Her last 800m was the Trials final where she fell heading into the homestretch and missed out on making her second Olympic team.  

At 31-years-old, Montano has six 800m national titles to her name. She is tied with Madeline Manning for the most USATF outdoor crowns in championship history. Notably, her 2015 victory took place less than one year after giving birth. 

Montano will compete in her 12th USATF Outdoor Championship, and second while pregnant, this Thursday beginning with the first round of the women's 800m.