Four years of preparation led up to a 2:32:40 race for Beijing this Sunday at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Marathon Olympic Trials in Boston, Mass. Blake Russell crossed the finish line with that 3rd place time behind fellow qualifiers Deena Kastor (1st place - 2:29:35) and Magdalena Lewy Boulet (2nd place - 2:30:19). Without 2004 Olympic Trials qualifiers Colleen De Reuck and Jen Rhines in the race, the women almost finished in the same order as four years ago. In 2004, Kastor placed second, Russell fourth, and Lewy Boulet fifth. Russell was determined to avenge her disappointing finish in 2004. Her 3rd place position was threatened by Hansons runner Desiree Davila, but she was able to hold her off thanks to a conservative start of the race. Davila eventually faded to 13th place. “This is really good practice [for Beijing] for me because I don’t really like the tactical races,” Russell described to Flotrack. “I’d rather just go from the gun, but I was under strict orders that I had to sit through [mile] 17. My coach knows best, so that’s what I was going to do.” Kastor, the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, was expected to win this time. However, she did not take the lead until the second half of the race when she gradually picked up the pace to pass Lewy Boulet. “I was a little scared in the middle stages,” Kastor stated in a Flotrack video interview, “but was able to use that strength to put in a little extra surge to catch Magdalena.” The trials were only a stepping stone for Kastor, whose main goal is to medal at the Olympic marathon in Beijing, August 8. “There’s so much on the line in an Olympic Games and everybody comes ready. It’s going to take perfect preparation,” Kastor said. “I trust 100 percent in the people that I work with and know they’ll get me there. I just have to initiate it.” Joan Benoit Samuelson has faith in Kastor. “[Deena] hasn’t disappointed me yet,” Samuelson said at the press conference. “I’m handing the torch off to her now and she can run with it.” Samuelson won the gold medal at the very first women’s Olympic marathon in 1984. Now 50, she ran a U.S. age record time of 2:49:08 at the trials, good for 90th place. Kastor, Lewy Boulet and Russell waited for her at the finish line, where they gave her a group hug. “It’s been a great run,” Samuelson said in summation of her enduring running career. The marathon trials were held the day before the 112th Boston Marathon, held this Monday morning. Ethiopian Dire Tune won the marathon in a time of 2:25:25, only two seconds ahead of second-place finisher Alevtina Biktimirova of Russia. The first American woman, Ashley Anklam, from Bloomington, Minn., placed 15th. Anklam ran the 26.2-mile distance in 2:48:14. For full results of the Boston Marathon, visit www.bostonmarathon.org For coverage of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, check out the “coverage” link on Flotrack or visit www.bostontrials2008.com *Photo from runnersworld.com