Molly Seidel (born July 12, 1994) is an American long distance runner. Seidel represented the United States at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country in 2012, 2013, and 2018.[3] In her first-ever marathon,[4] Seidel placed second at the 2020 U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials. Later, she went on to win the bronze medal in her third career marathon at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. At the University of Notre Dame, Seidel was a 4-time NCAA champion, 6-time NCAA All-American, 6-time Atlantic Coast Conference champion and 2016 female ACC Athlete of the Year.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Birth name | Molly Elizabeth Seidel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Brookfield, Wisconsin | July 12, 1994||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 115 lb (52 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Track, long-distance running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | 5000 m, 10,000 m, Half marathon, Marathon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
College team | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Puma[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Turned pro | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coached by | Tim Broe 2017–19 Jon Green 2019–present[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Olympic finals |
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Personal bests |
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Medal record
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Early life and education
editSeidel grew up in Hartland, Wisconsin, and attended University Lake School. Molly won Gatorade National Female Cross Country Runner of the Year. She also was named Gatorade Wisconsin Female Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2011. Seidel won the 2011 national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, breaking the tape in 17:22.[5] Seidel won Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association cross country, 1600m, and 3200m titles at the state meet all four years totaling 12 titles. Seidel earned New Balance Indoor Nationals mile and two-mile All-American honors in 2011. Seidel was invited to the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Challenge in Scotland where she placed third (15:16) in the 4K and was the first USA high school finisher.[6]
NCAA
editSeidel attended the University of Notre Dame and was the 2015 NCAA Division 1 national cross-country champion and the 2016 NCAA Division I national indoor track and field 3000 meters and 5000 meters champion.[7] Seidel won 10,000 meters title at 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Seidel was a six time Atlantic Coast Conference champion. She won the Honda Sports Award as the nation's top female cross country runner in 2016.[8][9]
Year | Conference Cross Country | NCAA Cross Country | ACC indoor | NCAA indoor | ACC Outdoor | NCAA Outdoor |
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2015–16 | 19:36.2 1st | 19:28.5 1st | 3000 m 9:02.24 1st | 3000 m 8:57.86 1st | ||
5000 m 15:19.64 1st | 5000 m 15:15.21 1st | |||||
2014–15 | 20:11.2 5th | 20:23.4 19th | 10,000 m 33:39.70 2nd | 10,000 m 33:18.37 1st | ||
3000 m 9:10.63 1st | DMR 11:15.96 8th | |||||
5000 m 15:55.84 1st | 5000 m 15:48.31 6th | 5000 m 16:07.87 1st | ||||
2013–14 | 21:23.1 26th | 21:48.8 171st | 5000 m 16:31.27 8th | 5000 m 16:40.62 11th | ||
2012–13 | 21:45.3 22nd | 21:39.1 217th |
NOTE: Notre Dame was in the Big East in 2012–13 but moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference starting in 2013–14.
Professional
editSeidel was invited to the 2012 Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country in Scotland where she placed third (15:16) in the 4 km and was the first USA high school finisher.
Seidel placed fourteenth in 20:13 in 2016 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships.[10] She ran the 2017 USATF Road 5k Championships Abbott Dash to the Finishline 5k in 15:35, her professional debut road race representing Saucony.[11][12]
Seidel qualified to represent Team USA at the 2018 Great Edinburgh International Cross Country in Scotland. Seidel finished third in the 6 km event in a time of 21:04, helping Team USA to an overall bronze.
Seidel continued the 2018 season with a 2nd place at the 2018 USA Cross Country Championships. She qualified for Team USA at 2018 NACAC Cross Country Championships in La Libertad, El Salvador on February 17, 2018.[13]
In Atlanta, Georgia, at the U.S. Woman's Olympic Trials Marathon on February 29, 2020, Seidel broke from the pack along with Aliphine Tuliamuk. Over the rolling hills of the course, the two pushed each other and took a large lead over third place Sally Kipyego. Seidel finished eight seconds behind Tuliamuk for a second place in 2:27:31.[14] She earned a spot on the US Olympic Team and won $65,000.[15]
On October 4, 2020, Seidel ran the London Marathon and finished 6th overall. She was the second American woman, finishing with a personal best time of 2:25:13.
With the Olympic postponement, Seidel broke her personal mark in the half marathon at Hampton, Georgia, running a 1:08:28 on February 28, 2021, in the Publix Atlanta Half Marathon held on the premises of the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
On August 6, 2021, Seidel won the bronze medal in the Tokyo 2020 marathon and was the first American woman to medal in the event since Deena Kastor's bronze in 2004.[16]
Seidel finished fourth at the 2021 New York City Marathon with a time of 2:24:42, which was the fastest ever by an American woman. She won $50,000 in prize money--$25,000 for her fourth-place finish and $25,000 for finishing as the top American.[17]
In 2021, Molly Seidel participated in the Berbee Derby held in Fitchburg, Wisconsin and set the record for the fastest run for an individual dressed as a turkey.[18]
On April 18, 2022, Seidel competed in the 2022 Boston Marathon. She was in the lead pack for the first half of the race but ended up withdrawing after 16 miles due to a hip impingement.[19]
On October 8, 2023, Seidel competed in the 2023 Chicago Marathon. In her first marathon start in eighteen months, Seidel finished in eighth place, the second American, in a personal best time of 2:23:07.[20]
On February 1, 2024, Seidel announced via her Instagram that she would not be racing in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon due to a broken patella and partially torn patella tendon.[21]
Competition record
editMarathons
editCompetition | Rank | Time | Location | Date | Notes |
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2020 US Olympic Team Trials | 2nd | 2:27:31 | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 2020 Feb 29 | Qualified for 2020 Tokyo Olympics |
2020 London Marathon | 6th | 2:25:13 | London, United Kingdom | 2020 Oct 04 | |
2020 Summer Olympics | 3rd | 2:27:46 | Tokyo, Japan | 2021 Aug 07 | 1st US medal since 2004 |
2021 New York City Marathon | 4th | 2:24:42 | New York City, USA | 2021 Nov 07 | Course record for an American woman |
2022 Boston Marathon | DNF | N/A | Boston, USA | 2022 April 18 | Dropped out around 16 miles (26 km) due to a hip injury[22] |
2023 Chicago Marathon | 8th | 2:23:07 | Chicago, USA | 2023 October 8 | New personal best[23] |
International results
editYear | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing the United States | |||||
2021 | Tokyo Olympics | Sapporo, Japan | 3rd place | Marathon | 2:27:46 |
2018 | Great Edinburgh International Cross Country | Edinburgh, Scotland | 3rd place | 6 km | 21:04[24] |
Team USA 3rd place | 81 points[25] | ||||
2013 | Great Edinburgh International Cross Country Junior Women | Edinburgh, Scotland | 12th place | 4 km | 14:35[26] |
Team USA 3rd | 26 points[27] | ||||
2012 | Great Edinburgh International Cross Country Junior Women | Edinburgh, Scotland | 3rd place | 4 km | 15:16[28] |
Team USA 1st | 16 points[29] |
Personal life
editSeidel has spoken publicly about her experiences with bulimia, OCD, and ADHD.[30]
References
edit- ^ Sarah Lorge Butler (January 22, 2021). "For Olympian Molly Seidel, a New Sponsorship Deal Rewards a Career Year". Runner's World. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ Seidel’s Improbable Marathon Debut Podium Runner. Brian Metzler
- ^ "Seidel races to GXC National ROY honors". ESPN. January 26, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
- ^ Futterman, Matthew; Minsberg, Talya (February 29, 2020). "Live Coverage of the Olympic Trials Marathon". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
- ^ "Molly Seidel University Lake School and University of Notre Dame races results". athletic.net. October 27, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
- ^ "Spotlight: Molly Seidel puts small school on a national stage". maxpreps. May 9, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
- ^ "Molly Seidel National Champion 5000m". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. March 26, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
- ^ "RunnerSpace.com/IN – News – Seidel Named Honda Sports Award Winner for Cross Country". www.runnerspace.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Notre Dame's Molly Seidel Named Honda Sports Award Winner for Cross Country". CWSA. December 2, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "2016 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships". USATF. December 10, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
- ^ "Molly Huddle's Great Saturday Morning: 25th U.S. Title in a Course Record". Runner's World. November 4, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Kipchirchir, Huddle Top USATF 5K Fields". New York Road Runners. November 4, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ 2018 USATF Cross Country Championships. USA Track and Field. February 3, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials results". NBC Sports. New York, New York. February 29, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ "U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon Media Guide" (PDF). Atlanta Track Club. p. 5. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ Longman, Jeré (August 7, 2021). "The Olympic Marathon in Sapporo: A Test of Survival". New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
- ^ Sands, Rich (November 7, 2021). "MOLLY SEIDEL AND ELKANAH KIBET SET THE PACE FOR THE U.S. AT THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON". Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ Dickinson, Marley (November 25, 2021). "Molly Seidel sets an official FKT for fastest known turkey". Canadian Running Magazine. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ Cacciola, Scott (April 18, 2022). "Boston Marathon Highlights: Peres Jepchirchir Wins in a Final Sprint; Evans Chebet Takes the Men's Race". The New York Times. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "She's Back: Molly Seidel Runs a Personal Best at the 2023 Chicago Marathon". Runner's World. October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ Reid, Claire. "Wisconsin native and Tokyo bronze medalist Molly Seidel withdraws from 2024 Olympic Trials". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "Molly Seidel Discusses Return To Racing, Chicago Marathon, And Olympic Hopes". October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Bank of America Chicago Marathon - 2023 Race Results.. October 8, 2023.
- ^ Great Edinburgh Cross Country 2018 Senior Women's 6 km USATF
- ^ Great Edinburgh Cross Country 2018 Senior Women's race video European Athletic Association
- ^ Great Edinburgh Cross Country 2013 Junior Women's 4 km USATF
- ^ Great Edinburgh Cross Country 2013 Junior Women's 4 km FloTrack January 5, 2013
- ^ Great Edinburgh Cross Country 2012 Junior Women's 4 km USATF
- ^ Junior Women 4 km Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country – International Challenge Jan 7, 2012 Edinburgh CC Course Edinburgh, GBR DyeStat January 7, 2012
- ^ [1]. Runner's World. October 6, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
External links
edit- Molly Seidel at World Athletics
- Molly Seidel all-athletic profile
- Molly Seidel at Team USA (archive July 11, 2022)
- Molly Seidel at Olympedia
- Molly Seidel at Olympics.com
- Molly Seidel on Instagram
- Molly Seidel – University of Notre Dame cross country profile
- Molly Seidel – University of Notre Dame track profile
- Molly Seidel – University of Notre Dame profile at TFRRS