An incredible 21 local Chicago area runners have qualified for the USA Olympic Marathon Trials to be held in Atlanta, GA. on February 29. The Chicago area will also be represented by an additional 20 runners who have local ties. The 2020 Marathon Trials are hosted by the Atlanta Track Club.

The top three male and female finishers at the USA Olympic Marathon Trials will represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. To be eligible men must have run a marathon at or under 2:19 since September 1, 2017 or a Half-Marathon at or under 1:04 since September 1, 2018. Women must have run a marathon at or under 2:45 or a Half-Marathon at or under 1:13 during the same time period.

Led by Chris Zablocki, Dan Kremske, and Colin Mickow, there are nine men who reside in the Chicago area who have qualified. Both Zablocki and Kremske represent the Second City Track Club. Kremske and Mickow are both University of Illinois alums.

Name, Best, Represents, Current Residence

Chris Zablocki, 2:13:45, Second City Track Club, Chicago

Dan Kremske, 2:14:53, Second City Track Club, Chicago

Colin Mickow, 2:14:55, N/A, Oswego

Alan Peterson, 2:14:56, Fleet Feet Chicago, Chicago

Kevin Havel, 2:15:37, Second City Track Club, Chicago

Brandon Mull, 2:17:17, Fleet Feet Racing, Chicago

Jackson Neff, 2:17:21, Second City Track Club, Chicago,

Matt Blume, 2:18:54, Fleet Feet Chicago, Chicago

Brett Lustgarten, 2:19:19, Illinois Elite, Chicago

Local women boast 12 qualifiers, including three women with personal bests under 2:40. Alyssa Schneider and Kristen Heckert represent Second City Track Club, while Jane Bareikis races for Fleet Feet Chicago. Both Scheider and Heckert achieved their bests at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Both also impressively balance their time as local math teachers. Bareikis won the 2018 CARA Runners' Choice Circuit, earning her CARA Runner of the Year honors that year.

Name, Best, Represents, Current Residence

Alyssa Schneider, 2:35:41, Second City Track Club, Barlett

Jane Bareikis, 2:37:32, Fleet Feet Chicago, Crestwood,

Kristen Heckert, 2:38:54, Second City Track Club, Bolingbrook

Kristina Lynn Aubert, 2:40:58, DW Running, Chicago

Lauren Kersjes, 2:41:44, Second City Track Club, Chicago,

Courtney Peterson, 2:42:28, Fleet Feet Chicago, Chicago

Kate Deprosperis, 2:43:11, Jenny Spangler / Rabbit, Western Springs

Marisa Hird, 2:43:33, Naperville Running Co., Naperville

Sarah David, 2:44:11, DW Running, Chicago

Julia Buford, 2:44:24, Fleet Feet Chicago, Chicago

Kristin Johnson, 2:44:27, Illinois Elite, Chicago

Amanda Macuiba, 2:44:37, Jenny Spangler Racing, Chicago

The Chicago area will also be represented by an additional 15 runners who grew up in the Chicago area. That group is led by Naperville (Nequa Valley HS) product Chris Derrick, and Roselle, IL native Lindsay Flanagan. Derrick is a multi-time USA Champion, while Flanagan has a ninth-place Boston Marathon finish to her resume.

Name, PR, Gender, Represents, Hometown

Chris Derrick, 2:12:50, Nike Bowerman TC, Naperville

Tyler Jermann, 2:13:29, Minnesota Distance Elite, Naperville

Patrick Rizzo, 2:13:42, N/A, Schaumburg

Johnny Crain, 2:15:46, ON Zap Fitness, Dunlap

Travis Morrison, 2:16:48, N/A, Hoffman Estates

Dan Harper, 2:17:30, Boston Athletic Association, Naperville

Christopher May, 2:18:34, N/A, Elmhurst

Oscar Medina, 2:18:40, Second City Track Club, Chicago

Patrick Geoghegan, 2:18:40, N/A, Oak Park

Lindsay Flanagan, 2:28:08, N/A, Roselle

Rachel Hyland, 2:37:22, Boston Athletic Association, Lake Bluff

Bryanne Lauck, 2:41:20, Sonoran Distance Project, Carol Stream

Erin Heenan, 2:41:15, N/A, Chicago

Shari Eberhard, 2:43:13, Sonoran Distance Project, Elmhurst

Grace Bowen, 2:44:49, Dashing Whippets, Kenilworth

Five more qualifiers have local ties to area colleges and universities. These, along with Brandon Mull (Wheaton College), Patrick Rizzo (North Central College), Johnny Crain (North Central College), Will Cross (Elmhurst College), and Kristen Heckert (UIC) give area colleges a total of 10 Olympic Trials representatives.

Name, PR, Gender, Represents, Local College Connection

Danny Docherty, 2:15:55, Minnesota Distance Elite, Loyola

Ryan Root, 2:16:45, Rabbit, North Central

Will Cross, 2:17:33, N/A, Elmhurst College

Julia Sizek, 2:41:58, Strawberry Canyon TC, U of Chicago

Rachel Booth, 2:37:59, N/A , Northwestern

The Marathon Trials will be broadcast live on NBC at 11:00 a.m. CT. Full details are online HERE.

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The CARA Runners' Choice Circuit provides a competitive structure and recognition for Chicagoland runners and clubs. The Circuit annually honors Chicagoland’s top runners and clubs with Runner of the Year and Club Champion titles. Comprised of various race distances, the Runners’ Choice Circuit providers all runners - both recreational and competitive - with the opportunity to chase personal, club, and competitive goals.

The Circuit features Chicagoland’s most well organized and well-appreciated races. Circuit races are found in both the city and suburbs and include both major world-class events and local club races alike. Circuit races are annually assembled with the input of CARA’s membership, the CARA Racing Committee, the CARA staff and CARA Board of Directors.