On Friday, July 4, Elmira’s hometown hero Molly Huddle will attempt to secure a spot on the United States Olympic Track and Field Team when she runs in the 5,000 meter finals at the Olympic Trials on the University of Oregon’s fabled Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Huddle has been a phenom from the first moment her quick feet stepped onto the track.  A member of Elmira Notre Dame High School’s basketball team at the time, Molly ran in an all-comers track meet at Cornell University with the Finger Lakes Runners Club in 2002 just to see how she could do.  That afternoon, Molly ran the fastest time yet that year in the nation by a high school girl in both the one mile (4:47:0) and two mile (10:19.8) races, and the Twin Tiers knew a track star had been born.  (Read FLRC runner Adam Engst’s account of Huddle’s performances.)  Molly went on to win numerous high school state titles on the track, and, during her senior year at Notre Dame, won and set course records at every regular season Cross Country meet she ran — despite being the only person on Elmira N.D.’s team!  That spring Molly won the U.S. National title in the girl’s two mile race in record time (10:01:08) — a record that still stands today.

Molly went on to enjoy a stellar career at the University of Notre Dame, where she graduated as its most decorated athlete — male or female — in history.  Earning over ten All American Certificates, finishing runner-up in two NCAA Division 1 5,000 meter national championships and taking 7th at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 5,000 meters in 2004, Molly showed the running world she is an up-and-coming talent with what seems like limitless potential.  (View Huddle’s profile by the University of Notre Dame.)

After graduating from Notre Dame Molly accepted sponsorship from Saucony and moved to Providence to join Run Providence and train under the tutelage of Ray Treacy.  Having an opportunity to train with some of the finest female distance runners in the world — including New Zealand star Kim Smith, Irish speedster Mary Cullen and U.S. racer Amy Mortimer, Huddle has achieved personal records in both the 5,000 meters (15:17) and 10,000 meters (31:27) throughout the past twelve months. 

But what Molly wants most she has yet to achieve…a spot on the United States Olympic Team. 

Last Friday Huddle had a chance to earn a ticket to Beijing when she competed in the 10,000 meter finals.  Molly came into the race as the third seed, and, along with Shalane Flanagan, Kara Goucher and Katie McGregor, was one of only four women to have run under the Olympic “A” standard prior to the trials.  Her world class time of 31:27 — run in the same race at Mount Sac where Flanagan smashed Deena Kastor’s American 10,000 meter record by an astounding 17 seconds in her debut at that distance — put Huddle in a great position to grab a spot on the team.  (Listen to a Running Times radio interview with Molly prior to the race.)  However, Flanagan, the American record holder in the 3,000 (indoor), 5,000, and 10,000 meter races, outdistanced Goucher, the 2007 Wolrd Championship bronze medalist in the 10,000 meters, down the stretch, and Goucher’s training partner and longtime pal Amy Yoder-Begely snuck just under the “A” standard to claim third place and the title of “Olympian.”  Unfortunately, Huddle had a tough evening, finishing 9th in 33:17.73.  (Listen to Huddle describe her feelings after the race on Flotrack; read the Elmira Star Gazette’s account of the event.)

Molly has one more chance to make the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team.  (Bear in mind Huddle is only 24, a mere babe in the eyes of distance runners.  Molly has two or even three more Olympiads in which to fulfill her dream.)  On Friday night at 8:55 PCT Molly will line up alongside Flangan, Goucher, Lauren Fleshman, Jen Rhines and a handfull of other dedicated runners prepared to duke it out for a spot on the team.  Flanagan, Goucher, Fleshman and Rhines have all run under the Olympic “A” Standard of 15:09, (and in fact have all run under 15:00.) As such Molly’s PR of 15:17 will have to be kicked to the wayside in order for her to prevail.  Perhaps Yoder-Begley’s performance last Friday, though certainly difficult for Molly to accept right now, will serve as an inspiration and remind Molly of that spirit of the Olympic Games makes anything possible.

GO MOLLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading,Thanks, Christina

___________________________________

Christina M. Sonsire, Esq.

Personal Injury & Malpractice Attorney

Ziff, Weiermiller, Hayden & Mustico, LLP

303 William Street, Elmira, New York 14902

Tel:  607.733.8866

Fax:  607.732.6062

Toll Free: 1.800.943.3529

Email: csonsire@zifflaw.com