March 25, 2024
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"It’s just a really cool moment. You just never know what opportunities will arise and what full-circle moments will happen. I’m just happy that I took that tough call in 2019 to move back here and figure my life and self out to become the runner that I am today and to be welcomed back by Brooks. It’s a really cool opportunity. I’m stoked to be back. "
Jess McClain (née Tonn) has signed a professional contract with Brooks Running a month after finishing fourth at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in a personal best of 2:25:46.
McClain burst onto the marathoning scene winning the Mesa Marathon in Feb. 2022 and then securing a U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying mark of 2:29:25 at Grandma’s Marathon in June 2023. She has been coaching herself. Even after the signing, she will remain in Arizona and will still coach herself.
McClain is the Olympic team alternate, which means if O’Keeffe, Sisson or Lindwurm were to get injured and unable to race in Paris, she would be called in as the replacement.
You can listen to the full interview with Mark Coogan on the CITIUS MAG Podcast – available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your shows.
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.