Marathon News - Athlete Makes U.S. Trials in Last Ditch Effort

Feb-11-2008

Athlete Makes U.S. Trials in Last Ditch Effort
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

Melanie Peters of St. Petersburg, Fla., won the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 13, but her victory wasn't a joyous one. Attempting to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon in Boston on April 20, Peters missed the minimum standard of two hours and 47 minutes by 29 seconds, less than on second per kilometer.

Undeterred, the 24 year-old Peters lined up at yesterday's Gasparilla Distance Classic Marathon in Tampa, Fla., just 28 days later to give it one last shot at qualifying. Finishing fifth overall, and the first amongst women, Peters clocked 2:46:45 to make her first Olympic Trials. The effort completely sapped her; the Tampa Tribune reported that her legs buckled at the finish line and she had to be taken to the medical area in a wheelchair.

"I was just praying to God my legs didn't lock up because if I went down, I'd be down," Peters told the Tribune. "And they stopped right at the finish."

Peters becomes the 176th --and probably the last-- qualifier for the Trials which will be hosted by the Boston Athletic Association.