(11-3-07) In an amazing performance, California's Ryan Hall pulled away from the competition at the 18-mile mark and let the rest of the field fight for the remaining two spots on the U.S. Men's Olympic Marathon Team. Today's Olympic Team Trials were held on a circuit course around New York City's Central Park. Hall's time of 2:09:02 for the 26.2-mile distance was a marathon trials record eclipsing the former record by over a minute. Dathan Ritzenhein, and Brian Sell rounded out the top three with Portland's Dan Browne sixth place.
Triumph turned to tragedy as word spread that fellow competitor Ryan Shay, who collapsed just over five miles into the race, had died after being taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. No additional details have been released, but stay tuned to coverage of the event HERE.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Shay family at this time.
