27 men and 14 women dipped under the US Olympic Marathon Trials standard today in the Jacksonville Half Marathon, as athletes scramble to qualify for the February 13th event in Los Angeles that is now less than six weeks away. 65:00 and 75:00 are the respective standards. 

Jonathan Grey (1:02:47) and Stephanie Dinius (1:13:41) were the winners, although both had qualified for the Trials previously. 

Bowerman Track ClubÂ’s Chris Derrick was the most notable finisher on Sunday, as the 25-year-old made his half marathon debut by placing third in 1:03:41. Derrick, who has won three straight USATF Cross Country titles, would be an intriguing name on the LA starting line given his success in the 10K and XC, however he has previously stated that he wonÂ’t move to the distance until after 2016. UPDATE HERE.

ThatÂ’s the same thing that Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp has said about his prospects for a 26.2 debut, but both men have now run half marathons recently that suggest theyÂ’re at least considering a change of plans. The timing in relation to the January 17th deadline is feeding the speculation.  

Likely, however, is that each will put their focus on the track again in 2016. ItÂ’s just tough to imagine coaches as meticulous as Alberto Salazar (Rupp) and Jerry Schumacher (Derrick) sending their athletes into the Trials with zero experience to speak of. But the possibility is there. 

43-year-old Kevin Castille made history today as the oldest male US Olympic Trials qualifier with his 1:04:33 15th place finish. The time was just a second off his PR. Castille already ran a OT qualifier in May with his 1:04:45 runner-up showing at the USA Masters Half Marathon Championships, but in a controversial turn, the course was revealed to have too much of an elevation drop, meaning that Castille had to run again if he wanted to participate in the Trials. He wasn't happy about it.

One name that had pretty much disappeared from running altogether was 2007 Foot Locker XC national champion Ashley Brasovan, who had her collegiate career at Duke largely derailed by injuries. The diminutive prep star from Wellington, Florida ran 16:18 for 5k as a high school junior, but never came within a minute of that time in college.

Today in Jacksonville, an all-but-forgotten 25-year-old Brasovan was ninth in 1:14:30. Shout out to her for never giving up. Now sheÂ’s got her place at the Olympic Trials next to Shalane Flanagan and Desi Linden.