By Chris Chavez
June 11, 2023
Former U.S. women’s marathon record holder Keira D’Amato plans to run the marathon at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Aug. 26.
Here’s what you need to know:
– D’Amato will represent the United States at a global championship for the second time in her career. Last year, she was called as a replacement for Molly Seidel on the world championship team and went on to finish eighth in 2:23:34 off of a shortened build-up.
– D’Amato was slated to run the London Marathon in April but withdrew due to a knee injury setback in her training. She has returned to racing and finished second at the USATF 25K Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 13 and then placed fifth in 31:23 at the NYRR Mini 10K on June 10.
– The United States is looking for its first medal at the world championships since Amy Cragg took bronze at the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London. Last year, Sara Hall was the top American at Worlds with a fifth place finish in 2:22:10. Emma Bates was seventh in 2:23:18.
What D’Amato said:
“I’ll be racing at Worlds this summer for Team USA. I’m really excited and proud. Training has been going well. The buildup has been long and intentional so I’m excited to race a marathon with the proper buildup.”
Who else is on the team?
– USA Track and Field offers up spots on the national team for the world championships off of a descending order list for marathons between Dec. 1, 2021 and May 30, 2023. Athletes can choose to accept or decline their spots on the team. Some athletes will choose to pass on the world championships since there are no appearance fees for competing in the race compared to the Major Marathons. Some athletes are also focused on a fall marathon as part of their final preparations for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials next February in Orlando, Florida.
– D’Amato’s personal best of 2:19:12 from the 2022 Houston Marathon, which was then the American record, put her at No. 2 on the descending order list behind Emily Sisson’s American record of 2:18:29 from the 2022 Chicago Marathon. D’Amato accepted her spot.
– Susanna Sullivan, who ran 2:24:27 to finish 10th overall and as the top American at the 2023 London Marathon, is also planning to run. She was sixth on the descending order list.
– Lindsay Flanagan, who ran a personal best of 2:24:43 at last year’s Gold Coast Marathon and took eighth at the Tokyo Marathon in 2:26:08 in March, is believed to be the third member of USA’s women’s marathoning squad.
Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
