Current Residence: San Francisco, CA

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Qualifying Race and Time: CIM 2023, 2:17:40

How did you feel when you qualified? What was that experience like? After chasing the OTQ standard for about 3 long years, all I kept saying to myself after crossing that finish line was "I finally did it". The race itself was amazing and a roller coaster ride. I knew coming into the race that it was going to be a fast one due to the amount of people wanting to hit the standard. What I did not expect was hundreds of runners in the front pack chasing the Standard. Off the bat, I was overwhelmed and had to try and keep calm, all i could do was shut off the mind and keep on running. After a couple missed water bottles and missed Gels I was able to find my way up to the OTQ Pacers and let them lead me all the way up to Mile 22. After the pacers dropped off, I had to make an important decision and press the pace a bit because the people around me were slowing down. I had to leave the group because I knew I had no room for error, as we were riding that fine line. After completing mile 22, I knew then I had it and I began to sprint my way to the finish line. What a race!

What dream are you chasing at the Trials? My Goal for this Olympic Trials is to place higher than I did last Olympic Trials. Last time I finished 51st and this time around I would like to be in the top 25.