For the first time in its long, vaunted history, CBS’s “60 Minutes” will feature an American marathon star. On Sunday evening’s show, Anderson Cooper follows Shalane Flanagan Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Boston Marathon Other Hearst Subscriptions.

Flanagan has been the U.S.’s top distance runner for nearly a decade. She won a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2008 Beijing Olympic, and placed fourth last year in her first Boston Marathon. She grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts, roughly 15 miles northeast of downtown Boston.

The 12-minute segment on Flanagan was produced by Coleman Cowan, DAA Industry Opt Out These Are the Worlds Fastest Marathoners a serious marathoner who ran 2:58 at the.

“The first two—the heat of 2012 and the bombs last year—gave me good reason to return,” Cowan said. “This year I’m hoping for a smooth, safe race for everyone, which I’m sure will be the case. I’ll also be wondering how Shalane’s doing.”

Cowan said "60 Minutes" had three main reasons for the Flanagan story: Her Boston roots; her attempt to improve on last year’s effort; and the marathon itself, one year after the bomb explosions. The marathon angle is covered through interviews with Boston Athletic Association executive director Tom Grilk, and Boston police commissioner William Evans, who ran his 18th Boston Marathon last year, and then spent nearly four sleepless days directing the manhunt for the alleged bombers.

A triathlete and ultramarathoner in addition to his frequent marathons, Cowan thought he knew how top athletes train. Flanagan showed him more than he expected.

“She’s done absolutely everything she could possibly do to put herself in position to win Boston,” Cowan said. “She’s got more focus and drive than I’ve ever seen in an athlete. She has an incredible desire to win the marathon for her home community and all it suffered last year.”

Concerned that non-running viewers might have little interest in a marathon story, Cowan and "60 Minutes" worked especially hard to capture the feel of running. They followed Flanagan with a moving camera on a Boston-course workout that stretched from Wellesley to the finish. In Portland, a cameraman on a Segway filmed Flanagan on wooded trails and along the Willamette River.

"60 Minutes" airs nationally at 7 p.m., Eastern time. The show could be delayed this Sunday by CBS’s broadcast of The Masters golf tournament. Shortly after show time, all segments are available for viewing on the "60 Minutes" website. 

A preview of the segement is available here.