The US sporting sphere is with folded hands to welcome the Olympic marathon trial in Orlando. The preparation for making the competitors’ list already reached the corners of the country. As the list itself presented, legends like Galen Rupp and Paul Chelimo are once again trying their long-sprinting feet. On the other hand, amateurs like Matthew Welch found themselves on the same list. Even so, as of now, just two American sprinters are the favorites to start Saturday for qualifying. 

Conner Mantz and Clayton Young are quite ahead of the pack. Both Americans clocked near the international qualifying time. Eventually, that became recognition when the sprinting legends discussed it. 

The positive words before the US Olympic marathon trial 

Just coming before the US Olympic Marathon trial, sprinter Scott Fauble dictated some motivating words for the event. The occasion was the press meet where Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, Paul Chelanga, and Scott Fauble made the honor list to share their note. However, Fauble started on a positive aide-mémoire. “There will be a big enough mass of guys upfront. This could be a fast race.” But with that, he revealed his inner belief about “three people from the US” at the Olympic marathon in Paris. Eventually, that was the caption of the X-post of FloTrack before the event. It conceded, “I think the level of competition is high enough and the conditions will be such that we’re going to have three people in Paris.”

Reportedly, the upcoming Orlando marathon trial for the Olympics is set to send two people in the final berth. The third one will be chosen later. But in a complex jotting down, another situation can be possible. Both Conner Mantz and Clayton Young clocked ahead of 2:08:10, the international qualifying standard. So, if anyone except the mentioned duo runs faster than the said time, then the top three in the ultimate list will earn the ticket for the Olympic marathon. But here is another twist.

The top-3 list will flaunt only those who achieved the clocking of 2:11:30 or better timing in the qualifying window, i.e., from November 2022 to February 3, 2024. So, Scott Fauble thought that was quite doable as he expressed the helping elements. But the list of opponents holds several phenomenal contenders. 

The highly motivated stars from the list 

Galen Rupp came just behind Clayton Young in registering his clocking. The 2x Olympic marathon medalist is vying for his fifth Olympic appearance. Even so, a raging injury couldn’t hold the veteran as last year he timed 2:08:48 in Chicago. Abdi Abdirahman became a household American name for the US Olympic marathon. The 47-year-old will appear to repeat his Tokyo Olympics success. 

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Scott Fauble himself added his 2:08:52 timing to earn the qualification. So he will be another face to catch the berth of the Paris Olympic marathon. Now, when the interest is already brewing with the possible names, just a wait for a few hours more will serve in the unveiling. 

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