Despite challenging conditions, Sisson runs 31:03.82 to eclipse Kastor’s meet record, run second-fastest time in U.S. championship history behind Flanagan; Schweizer becomes sixth American female athlete to qualify in 5,000 and 10,000, with Monson earning first Olympic berth, as seven women run under 32 minutes

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Emily Sisson had nearly 16 months to hold on to her dream of competing in Tokyo after not being able to complete the final five miles at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta last February.

She made sure that aspiration became a reality Saturday by ambitiously leading the last five miles of the women’s 10,000-meter final and never relinquishing control, challenging 5,000 qualifiers Karissa Schweizer, Elise Cranny and Rachel Schneider by picking up her pace throughout the second half of the race despite the 85-degree heat and pulling away from Alicia Monson in the final five laps to not only secure her first national title in the event, but produce a meet-record 31 minutes, 3.82 seconds at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

BUILDING THE OLYMPIC TEAM

“The Olympic marathon trials, that broke my heart, that was so hard to go through. I don’t feel like I have a chip on my shoulder or felt like I needed to prove anything because of that,” said Sisson, who dropped out of the race in mile 22 in Atlanta.

“When I look back at that day, it was just a really hard day, but no matter what my previous performance was, whether I had a really good run or a really poor one, I’ve always just kind of looked forward and worked hard going into whatever the next thing is. I went all in on this trying to make the 10K team.”

Sisson, 29, channeled the aggressive front-running tactics of 2016 Trials double champion and training partner Molly Huddle with her performance Saturday to eclipse the 2004 meet record of 31:09.65 held by Deena Kastor.

Sisson, representing New Balance, also ran the second-fastest 10,000 at a U.S. national final, trailing only the 30:59.97 effort in 2011 by Shalane Flanagan.

“It’s actually just starting to sink in now. To be honest, I went through a pretty rough patch after Atlanta because I went all in on that marathon and I came out of that race feeling really broken, just body wise and with my motivation, too,” Sisson said. “I felt like that broke my heart because I was so all in on that and it didn’t work out. I was very confused after and then we entered the pandemic and there was all this uncertainty. Usually I’m good at moving on from bad races, but I really struggled with that one. There was nothing to move on to, and my body wasn’t feeling good, even if there was.

“But my husband (Shane Quinn) was amazing during that time, and he helped me emotionally and mentally bounce back, and my chiropractor helped me physically bounce back. It took a really long time, but looking back, it was so much work, but it was so worth it.”

Schweizer, running her 50th lap in eight days in the 5,000 and 10,000, closed in 68.81 to surge past Monson (31:18.52) and place second in 31:16.52.

The Nike Bowerman Track Club athlete became the sixth female athlete in American history to qualify for the Olympics in both the 5,000 and 10,000, joining Elva Dryer, Kara Goucher, Flanagan, Huddle and Kastor.

“It’s incredible. I have looked up to all of them for so long and never would I have thought that making one team, let alone two, would be in my future, so I’m really grateful for it,” Schweizer said. “I really attribute a lot of that to my coaches. Shalane has done it in the past and she is a great person to look up to and really key off and ask those difficult questions.

“I think that’s really important because the second event is always going to be difficult. I did not think that was going to be as painful as it was. I knew going into it that Emily Sisson was going to make it a tough race, but I didn’t know how I was going to feel or respond to that. I think the heat and humidity really made it a grind for everyone out there.”

Monson, representing On Athletics Club, matched the success of teammate Joe Klecker in the men’s 10,000 final by also achieving her first Olympic berth. She conserved energy early, gradually working her way up to second with one mile remaining and maintained that position until Schweizer’s late surge surpassed her on the final lap.

Cranny (31:35.22) and Schneider (31:42.92), who finished first and third June 21 in the 5,000 final, placed fourth and fifth in the 10,000, as seven athletes ran under 32 minutes for the fastest race in Trials history. Sara Hall (31:54.50), who also didn’t finish the Marathon Trials race last year, secured sixth and Natosha Rogers (31:59.09) placed seventh.

“The Olympic Trials that Karissa just put together is incredible,” Schneider said. “That’s a really tough double. You know, 50 laps over eight days is no small feat, especially in these temperature conditions and lining up with the best women in the country. A lot of respect for anyone who does that 5K-10K double at the Olympic level.”

Weini Kelati, who competed in her first race as an American athlete, dropped out around the 7,000-meter mark. Kelati, representing the Under Armour Dark Sky Distance team, represented Eritrea in her first race on U.S. soil in 2014 at the World Under-20 Championships at Hayward Field.