Shalane FlanaganHome: Portland, OregonBib: #F17 Pronunciation: Sha-lane Flan-a-gan Birthdate: 8 July 1981 Personal Best: 2:25:38 (Houston, 2012) |
| 15Apr13 | Boston Marathon | 4th | 2:27:08 |
| 05Aug12 | London Olympic Games Marathon | 10th | 2:26:07 |
| 07Nov10 | ING New York City Marathon | 2nd | 2:28:40 |
| 14Jan12 | Houston U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon | 1st | 2:25:38 CR |
| 20Mar11 | IAAF World Cross Country Championships | 3rd | 25:10 |
| 07Feb09 | Boston Reebok Indoor Games 5,000m indoors | 2nd | 14:47.62 AR |
| 15Aug08 | Beijing Olympic Games 10,000m | 3rd | 30:22.22 AR |
| 22Aug08 | Beijing Olympic Games 5,000m | 10th | 15:50.80 |
| 27Jan07 | Boston Reebok Indoor Games 3,000m indoors | 2nd | 8:33.25 AR |
Three-time Olympian Shalane Flanagan, who finished fourth last year in Boston, returns for the win. In 2012 she won the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in an event record of 2:25:38 and finished tenth at the 2012 London Olympic Marathon. Flanagan holds North and Central American records in the indoor 3,000m and 5,000m and in the outdoor 10,000m. She won the bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympics, placed second in her 2010 marathon debut in New York City, and won the bronze medal at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Last year she won the USA Cross Country Championships, recorded her fastest half marathon (68:31) at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in New Orleans, won the USA 10,000m Championships, finished eighth in the 10,000m at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, and placed second at the USA 12K championship in 37:58.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina with a degree in history, Flanagan won national cross country titles in 2002 and 2003 and was the indoor 3,000m champion. As a professional, she has won the following national titles: USA Cross Country (five times), USA Marathon (twice), USA Half Marathon, USA Indoor 3,000m, USA 5K (twice), USA 10,000m (three times), and USA 5,000m (twice).
“In my career, I’ve never felt my running take on a more personal meaning than it will to prepare for this year’s race,” says Flanagan. “The 2014 Boston Marathon will be run with overwhelming honor, passion and joy. Each step we take closer to the finish line is a victory in and of itself. It’s hard to express what it means to return this particular year to the place where I grew up and compete. In one word, I guess it would be ‘pride.’ I and many in the field will be fueled by those who were affected by the tragedy and will be running for those who cannot.”
Flanagan attended Marblehead High School in Massachusetts, where she participated in cross country, track, soccer and swimming. Both of Flanagan’s parents were top-ranked American marathon runners. Flanagan’s mother Cheryl Treworgy is a former world marathon record holder (2:49:40, 1971) and five-time member of U.S. World Cross Country Championship teams. She also held the 3-mile and 5,000m American records. Her father Steve Flanagan holds a marathon personal best of 2:18 and has also run the Boston Marathon.
Flanagan is married to Steve Edwards who was a track and field athlete at the University of North Carolina. The couple lives in Portland, Oregon, and Flanagan is coached by Jerry Schumacher and is part of the Oregon Track Club. Flanagan said she enjoys volunteering with a youth program called BAC (Bowerman Athletic Club), which is a running club for kids, ages seven to 13. “I especially hope to set a strong example for young girls, so that they can dream big and gain confidence from their athletic abilities,” says Flanagan.
“The 2014 Boston Marathon will be run with overwhelming honor, passion and joy. Each step we take closer to the finish line is a victory in and of itself.”