Molly Seidel placed sixth in a personal best of 2:25:13 at the London Marathon on Sunday. Seidel was one of three American women who competed on the closed course in St. James’s Park.
Seidel ran steadily throughout, passing halfway in 12th place in 1:12:26. Her time was more than two minutes faster than what she ran to place second at the Olympic Marathon Trials in February, and makes her the Major Changes Hit Northern Arizona Elite.
The performance is the 26-year-old’s second marathon and second race since the COVID-19 outbreak began. In July, she dropped out of the 10,000 meters in a COVID-adjusted meet outside of Boston. Before the London Marathon, Seidel said she was thrilled to have another opportunity to compete after months of uncertainty.
“I got the okay that if the race was happening, I would have a spot,” Seidel told Runner’s World. “When they made that final announcement a couple of weeks ago, that was when we found out, too. It was such a relief. I got the text, and I almost threw my phone across the room. I was so excited.”
The Olympic Trials set the stage for+ 🏃♀️🇬🇧🏃♂️
The finish in London provided more experience for Seidel, who is slated to represent the United States at the postponed Olympics in 2021. In February, Seidel made her marathon debut in the Health & Injuries I got the okay that if the race was happening, I would have a spot, Seidel told.
The Olympic Trials set the stage for Seidel’s comeback to elite running. A four-time NCAA champion while at Notre Dame, Seidel struggled with disordered eating, which led to multiple injuries. The summer after her senior year, she entered a recovery program and eventually returned healthier as a budding road racer. Before the Olympic Trials, she ran a half marathon personal best of 1:09:35 in Houston, making her the 10th-fastest American on a record-eligible course.
Reigning London Marathon champion Brigid Kosgei held onto her crown for first place, while Seidel’s fellow American Sara Hall chased down world marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich to place second.
Taylor Dutch is a sports and fitness writer living in Chicago; a former NCAA track athlete, Taylor specializes in health, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in SELF, Runner’s World, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner. When she’s not writing, Taylor volunteers as a coach to up-and-coming runners in the Chicago area.
