In a New York Minute- The 2008 Men's Olympic Marathon Trials

November 3, 2007

New York City, 2008 Men's Olympic Marathon Trials - November 3, 2008
The Eagles song "In a New York Minute" seemed fitting of the highs and lows that made the 2008 Men's Olympic Marathon Trials. With rain, gusty, winds, and cold temperatures, 128 of the Country's best toed the line in Central Park, all with the same hope: making the Olympics. Arguably, this was the most competitive Men's Olympic Marathon Trials in history.

Picture of Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein and Brian Sell after winning their tickets to Beijing

Some of the favorites included Half-Marathon record holder Ryan Hall at a mere 25 years of age, Dathan Ritzenhein a new father and cross country hero, Meb Keflezighi the 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist, Abdi Abdirahman two-time Olympian, and Alan Culpeper past olympic marathoner and multiple national championship holder.

As an anxiety filled night broke into early morning excitement, hordes of people gathered to watch the race take place on the 5 plus mile loop that would take the runners up and down the many hills of NYC's Central Park. Early in the race it was still anybody's game. A pack including Keflezighi, Dan Browne, Khalid Kannouchi, Hall, Ritzenhein, Culpeper, Abdirahman formed in the early stages of the race. At the halfway point Hall began a charge that would propel him to overall victory in Olympic Marathon Trials Record time. Ritzenhein established a gap on the rest of the field that he held through his second place finish.

The real race was for 3rd place. A dark horse, Dan Browne, and Meb Keflezighi battled for the 3rd position until Browne made a surge that would propel him several seconds ahead. The race was far from over, as Browne fell victim to a cramp in his calf. With only one lap to go, the real hero of the day, Brian Sell, fu-manchu flowing, came out and took a lead that he fought hard to keep all the way to his 3rd place finish. Sell symbolizes the blue-collar runner of America: working part time at Home Depot, training more than 160 miles per week, and fueling on burgers (http://www.flocasts.org/flotrack/coverage.php?c=116&id=5477).

The 2008 New York City Men's Olympic Marathon Trials showed that one thing remains true in the Big Apple: "In a New York minute....everything can change."

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#15	Rump Roast November 3, 2007 at 7:16pm Congrats, good luck in Beijing. You now get to run agaisnt the kenyan and ethiopian team, which will include haile gebrelassie. reply
#14	Gregg_x November 3, 2007 at 6:30pm congrats brian and dathan you made michigian proud reply
#13	Cara Hawkins November 3, 2007 at 5:47pm I am so upset that I missed the live coverage, but I suppose I have a valid excuse of running race. Congrats to everyone. reply
#12	Oldguysrun_x November 3, 2007 at 4:26pm Congrats Brian. I read your article in Running Time and had been cheering you to a berth. I think you'll be an inspiration to every kid out there that has a passion to run but not the talent many others have. You're a testament to what what hard work with no excuses has always meant to Americans. Orale! U da guy!! reply
#11	Derek Rubis November 3, 2007 at 1:46pm Yeah, Ritzenhein made it. Ritz is my guy. reply
#10	Ss November 3, 2007 at 11:00am Alan did drop out before Abdi reply
#9	Anonymous Coward November 3, 2007 at 10:57am I know Abdi dropped out but did Culpepper as well? reply
#8	Mr Blister November 3, 2007 at 10:51am 1 2 Ryan Hall 25 Mammoth Lakes, CA 2:09:02 2 9 Dathan Ritzenhein 24 Eugene, OR 2:11:07 3 5 Brian Sell 29 Rochester Hills, 2:11:40 4 1 Khalid Khannouchi 36 Ossining, NY 2:12:34 5 47 Jason Lehmkuhle 30 Minneapolis, 2:12:54 6 127 Daniel Browne 32 Beaverton, OR Nike 2:13:23 7 20 Nathaniel Jenkins 27 Lowell, MA 2:14:56 8 4 Meb Keflezighi 32 San Diego, CA 2:15:09 9 126 Josh Rohatinsky 25 Portland, OR Nike 2:15:22 10 24 Jason Hartmann 26 Boulder, CO 2:15:27 11 128 Matthew Gonzales 26 Albuquerque, NM Nike 2:16:14 12 15 Mike Morgan 27 Rochester Hills, 2:16:28 13 38 Fasil Bizuneh 27 Flagstaff, AZ 2:16:47 14 125 James Carney 29 Boulder, CO New Balance 2:16:54 15 92 Steve Sundell 25 Redwood City, CA 2:16:54 16 87 Christopher Raabe 28 Washington, DC 2:17:01 17 28 Nick Arciniaga 24 Rochester Hills, 2:17:08 18 11 Clint Verran 32 Rochester Hills, 2:17:10 19 46 Matt Pelletier 28 Warwick, RI Running Heritage 2:17:17 20 14 Chad Johnson 31 Rochester Hills, 2:17:58 reply
#7	Wondering November 3, 2007 at 10:36am What happened to ryan shay? reply
#6	Luke Sykora November 3, 2007 at 10:26am Wow, what a turn of events. I just saw Ryan Shay goofing around during the race just a few hours ago. reply
#5	Me November 3, 2007 at 10:21am I am so sorry that there are no words to describe how happy I was and how sad I am right now. I am sure that Ryan and Sara are feeling the same thing. My heart goes out to Alicia Craig for having lost her husband on the day of one of her best friend's greatest triumphs. I am so sad right now reply
#4	M V November 3, 2007 at 10:10am i aint a runner.. and i dont get up before noon usually.. but today i think i did.. for the first time to watch sports. reply
#3	Madhu_x November 3, 2007 at 10:08am i aint a runner.. and i am not the dude who gets up at 6 for anything.. ya i am part of flotrack.. but honestly i got up today to see it. reply
#2	Tony Casey November 3, 2007 at 10:06am Yeah, that race was really something! reply
#1	Luke Sykora November 3, 2007 at 9:59am Granted, it wasn't a sprint to the finish, but in my opinion it was still one of the best races I've ever seen. Incredibly inspiring to watch Hall take off at 17 miles... reply