After disappointing performances at the U.S. Olympic Trials, several athletes rode the comeback train all the way to personal bests and top finishes on the European racing circuit. Here are the athletes who managed to turn heartbreak into redemption over the weekend post-Trials. 

Molly Ludlow 

Ludlow experienced the ultimate devastation when she finished a close fourth in the women's 800m final. Ludlow was forced to dodge a crash in the final 100 meters of the race, which cost her a spot on the Olympic team. It was Ludlow's third time finishing fourth at a U.S. championship, and her second time finishing fourth at the Olympic Trials. 

Related: Molly Ludlow's 1:57 is More Than Fine

Just a few days later, Ludlow took advantage of a fast pace at the Monaco Diamond League meeting by unleashing a personal best of 1:57.68. Only six American women--Jearl Miles Clark, Mary Decker Slaney, Kim Gallagher, Meredith Valmon, Alysia Montano, and Ajee Wilson--have ever run faster 800m times. 

"I came out here with a vengeance after the Trials last week," Ludlow told FloTrack while holding back tears. 

"I was just so pissed off and discouraged; I've been waiting for this, and am just so happy that it happened."

In Monaco, Ludlow improved her personal best by a full second. She ran her previous best mark, 1:58.68, at last year's Paris Diamond League meeting. After a rollercoaster week, Ludlow shared her elation after her breakthrough race in Monaco. 

Andy Bayer

The Bowerman Track Club athlete experienced heartbreak at the Trials when he lost momentum over the last water barrier of the steeplechase final. Bayer was in third with 200 meters remaining, but faded to fourth when Don Cabral passed him on the homestretch. Despite the disappointment, Bayer was optimistic following the performance, and showed a balanced perspective on the race and his future in the sport. 

Friday in Monaco, Bayer threw down a personal best of 8:17.39 to bury his previous best of 8:18.08 from last year's London Diamond League meeting. 

"I wasn't nearly as nervous for this as I was going into the Trials, and I think that's partially because of adrenaline highs and lows," Bayer said. "But to run 8:17, I mean I was trying to mostly run a good last 200m and I did that, but I think there's more in the tank."

The performance earned him a sixth-place finish in Monaco and gave him some solace after the Trials disappointment. 

Katie Mackey

For the second year in a row, Mackey finished sixth in the 5K at the U.S. championships. Mackey was running with the lead pack with 400 meters remaining in the Trials final when she faded behind Abbey D'Agostino, Emily Infeld, Kim Conley, Shelby Houlihan and Molly Huddle. Both Huddle and Infeld opted to focus on the 10K at the Olympic Games, which gave the final spot to D'Agostino. By the end of the declaration process, Mackey ended up missing the Olympic team by one spot. 

Mackey bounced back from the Trials by finishing seventh amid a tough Monaco field. She clocked 8:46.58 in the 3K, which is an eight-second personal best. 

"I feel like I've been in the eye of the storm this week," Mackey said. 

"I was like well, I can get back up on the horse--it's a lot better than sitting on the ground crying and feeling sorry for myself--and from that second on I switched my mindset."

Following the breakthrough performance, Mackey shared how she mentally returned from the Trials disappointment. 

Ryan Hill

Unfortunately for Hill, he couldn't repeat his success from last year's USATF Outdoor Championship at the Trials. Hill won the 5K last year in Eugene, but only managed a sixth-place finish at this year's championship, where he missed the Olympic team by three spots. 

Saturday in Heusden, Belgium, Hill turned the disappointment into a personal best in a shorter race. He finished seventh in the 1500m against a field that included world indoor champion Ayanleh Souleiman. Souleiman won the race in a season's best of 3:31, and Hill followed with a two-second personal best of 3:35. 



Watch Hill react to the performance on Saturday: