Clark Earns Solo Trip to Sydney

COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the first time, only one women’s marathoner will represent the United States at the Olympics--a 37-year-old pathologist and mother of two from Alaska who does most of her training on a treadmill.

Christine Clark won the women’s Olympic marathon trials Saturday in 2 hours 33 minutes 31 seconds, bettering her personal best by more than seven minutes on a humid, 80-degree day.

“If you would have told me before the race that I would run 2:33 and win the race, I would have laughed in your face,” Clark said.

While Clark was elated, others were crestfallen, notably runner-up Kristy Johnston and eighth-place finisher Libbie Hickman.

Going into the race, Johnston and Hickman were the only two Americans who had run under the Olympic standard of 2:33. But under rules of USA Track & Field, neither will go to Sydney, denying the Americans an opportunity to field their usual three-woman team.

Had Clark broken 2:33 and no one else dipped under that time, then Johnston and Hickman also would have gotten tickets to Sydney.

“It’s very hard,” Johnston said after running 2:35:36. “I will try and fight some of the rules but do it in a positive way so I don’t take anything away from the first-place finisher.”

The International Amateur Athletic Federation changed the standard from 2:35 to 2:33 seven months ago.

Hickman ran 2:39:57.