The US Olympic Marathon Trial has concluded on a pleasant note and we have the list to pick our picks from. The US athletes have shown their true worth across all sporting realms and, heading to Paris, the marathon has its top athletes already. In the women’s category, the top finisher Fiona O’Keeffe has the North American record holder Emily Sisson trailing behind. But looking a little further, we have another icon sitting on third, Dakotah Lindwurm.

Dakotah Lindwurm, the Minnesota native, has punched her Paris ticket finally. The hilly course and the harsh weather conditions during the 2020 Olympic Trials had crushed her dreams, placing the 28-year-old in 36th. But this time at the Trial, as she made a phenomenal comeback, her coach left some heartwarming notes for Lindwurm.

Coach Chris Lundstrom opens up about Dakotah Lindwurm’s strong will

Clocking a winning time of 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 31 seconds, Dakotah Lindwurm has secured a spot on the US Olympic Team. This news, besides leaving her family excited, has moved her coach significantly. Since Lindwurm trains at the Minnesota Distance Elite, she came in the proximity of the 3x Olympics Trials qualifier. In a post-event interview with letsrundotcom, Lundstrom credited Dakotah for her top position after training struggles. He said, “Not everybody’s going to be an Olympian. She just does not slow down…it’s not blazing I mean there’s other people who could maybe run faster than that but it’s something that she’s continued to work on and you know continue to have that higher top end.”

Having been in the combined St. Francis/North Branch high school girls’ hockey team, the Minnesotan later recognized her passion for long-distance running. She completed her running career as a collegiate in 2017, the year she shifted to marathon. At the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon, she had finished second, despite a major lead. But do you know who else’s heart is filled with pride right now? Her father.

From high school track to the US Olympic Marathon Trial

Watching his daughter qualify for Paris over the weekend was a memory the father wants to cherish forever. Someone who didn’t smash records or bring trophies in high school made her father say, “That hard work, dedication, that grit and a lot of heart, a lot of heart, obviously paid off”.

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The daughter’s happiness knew no bounds when she screamed, ‘Dad, we did it!’. The teary-eyed father decided on one thing at that moment. “To see her out there running for the USA is going to be the highlight of my life”. Even her St. Francis High School compatriots and teachers are looking forward to her Olympic win now.

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