BOSTON — With the top American marathoners resting for the Rio Olympics, Neely Spence Gracey could be the best American hope for a podium finish in Boston on Monday.

The top women start racing at 9:30 Eastern and the men at 10.

Gracey, 26, of Superior, Colo., is an eight-time N.C.A.A. Division II national champion who will be making her marathon debut. But in a way, she has been a marathoner all her life.

Gracey is the daughter of 1991 world championship bronze medalist Steve Spence. Her father finished 19th — the No. 2 American overall — in the 1989 Boston Marathon, and Gracey was born on Patriots’ Day in 1990 while her father was running the race.

“I grew up hearing all about that story,” she said.

Gracey was planning to run in the Olympic trials in February but a problem with her left foot convinced her she wasn’t ready. Instead, she was on track for Boston.