Shalane Flanagan’s Olympic Trials Podium Predictions
Who does the fastest female in the country think will make the Olympic team tomorrow?
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Tomorrow at the United States Olympic Trials for the marathon, the fastest long-distance runners in the country will battle it out over a winding 26.2 miles through downtown Los Angeles. The prize? A spot on the Olympic team for the first three men and women to cross the finish line.
Related: 11 Faces Of Olympic Trials Marathon
With the fastest marathon time going into the race (2 hours, 21 minutes, 14 seconds), Shalane Flanagan is the clear favorite to clinch the win. She also nabbed a victory in the 2012 Olympic Trials in Houston and was the first American in the London Olympics, coming in tenth.
So who does Flanagan think will join her on the team? At the pre-race press conference she shared, “Selfishly, I would love to see Amy [Cragg], because I just know the synergy and the amount of energy that we brought to the table this time around.” She added, “I honestly think Desi is prepared really well and is ready for a big breakthrough in Rio.”
And for men: “It’s completely wide open…On paper there’s obviously some people who look to have an advantage, but I do think the conditions could have an effect on everyone.” She did give one name for her wishlist though: “As far as a fan favorite, I would love to see Meb on the team.”
Watch who makes the team by tuning into NBC at 10 a.m. PT on Saturday, Feb. 13. You can also watch online through the free NBC Sports Live Extra app.