By Paul Snyder
May 12, 2017
Despite what you might be expecting, this post has nothing to do with “Sim City 3000,” it was just a fun video game.
USATF just announced the six athletes who will represent the United States in the marathon at this summer’s IAAF World Championships in London. The WC Marathon just doesn’t generate the same buzz as its shorter, track-based counterparts, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be educated about the athletes the USA is sending to compete in it.
So in the interest of you not appearing to have your pants around your ankles if engaged in marathon-centered discussion, we’ve laid out some talking points about the six American competitors.
We can’t fathom an instance in which a co-worker corners you at the water cooler to chew the fat about American marathoning, but should it happen, you’ll be prepared, thanks to these talking points.
MEN
Abdi Abdirahman
Hometown/college/current residence: Hargeisa, Somalia/Arizona/Tucson & Flagstaff
Marathon PR: 2:08:56 (4th at Chicago, 2006)
Most recent marathon result: 2:12:45 (6th at Boston, 2017)
Human interest fact: As reported by Runner’s World this year, Abdirahman dates Burundian distance runner and Olympian Diane Nukuri.
Bobby Curtis
Hometown/college/current residence: Madison, WI/Villanova/Rochester, MI
Marathon PR: 2:11:20 (twice: 9th at Chicago, 2014; 4th at Frankfurt, 2016)
Most recent marathon result: 2:11:20 (4th at Frankfurt, 2016)
Human interest fact: Curtis has overcome severe insomnia to set his running career back on course.
Augustus Maiyo
Hometown/college/current residence: Kapsabet, Kenya/Alabama/Colorado Springs, CO
Marathon PR: 2:13:16 (7th at Boston, 2017)
Most recent marathon result: 2:13:16 (7th at Boston, 2017)
Human interest fact: Maiyo is a sergeant in the US Army and competes for the WCAP.
WOMEN
Serena Burla
Hometown/college/current residence: St. Louis, MO/Mizzou/Washington, D.C.
Marathon PR: 2:26:53 (4th at Osaka, 2017)
Most recent marathon result: 2:26:53 (4th at Osaka, 2017)
Human interest fact: Burla is a cancer survivor.
Amy Cragg
Hometown/college/current residence: Long Beach, CA/Arizona State/Portland, OR
Marathon PR: 2:27:03 (2nd at Los Angeles)
Most recent marathon result: 2:28:25 (9th at the 2016 Rio Olympics)
Human interest tidbit: Cragg kept Flanagan from falling, once.
Laura Thweatt
Hometown/college/current residence: Durango, CO/Colorado/Superior, CO
Marathon PR: 2:25:38 (6th at London, 2017)
Most recent marathon result: 2:25:38 (6th at London, 2017)
Human interest tidbit: Thweatt coaches the Monarch High School cross country teams.
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Paul Snyder
Paul Snyder is the 2009 UIL District 26-5A boys 1600m runner-up. You can follow him on Bluesky @snuder.bsky.social.