She ran even faster two years later at the 2010 the Chicago Marathon, where she crossed the finish line in 2:47:50, setting a new 50 to 54 age group record for women. She also holds the 55 to 59 age-group record, which she ran at the Boston Marathon in 2013. Olympic Marathon Trials, Samuelson, then 50, was the oldest competitor, finishing in an impressive 2:49:08. Her phenomenal professional running career has spanned nearly four decades and includes marathon victories in Chicago, New York City and Boston.ĭespite injuries and the inevitable march of time, Samuelson continues to redefine what athletes can achieve as they age. At the 2008 U.S.
In a sport known to be brutal on the mind and body, Samuelson has displayed remarkable resilience since her inspiring gold medal performance at the 1984 Olympics in the inaugural women’s marathon.
Race director Carey Pinkowski says he’s elated to welcome back the legendary champion, who set an American marathon record when she won the event in 1985, a mark that stood for 18 years. “I have no doubt she will attack this new goal with the determination she’s known for, and she will surely inspire and motivate so many with her endless drive,” Pinkowski says.īernie Portenski of New Zealand, who died last year at 67, set the current world record of 3:01:30 for the women’s 60 to 64 age group in 2010. “Marathoning is more than ever a metaphor for life,” she told Women’s Running in a text message, adding that she is looking forward to sharing the experience with her daughter, Abby, and niece, Margaret, who are also running the race. She announced her decision to run this year’s marathon just a week before the race. Samuelson planned last year to chase the record in Chicago, but a knee injury forced her to withdraw. True to her unflagging competitive spirit, the 61-year-old will attempt to become the world’s first woman in her 60s to run a marathon in under three hours. Joan Benoit Samuelson, the 1985 Chicago Marathon champion and one of the most revered American women distance runners in history, is set to compete in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday. Joan Benoit Samuelson To Race 2018 Chicago Marathon
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