Amy (Hastings) Cragg matched her personal best marathon time at the Chicago Marathon last year, as she finished top American and forth overall in 2:27:03. She made her marathon debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Marathon with an impressive second place in 2:27:03. Her next marathon was the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, where she finished just off the podium in fourth. Undeterred, she fought back to win the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m and then finished 11th in the event at the London Olympic Games. Hastings competed in the 10,000m at the 2013 IAAF World Championships and finished 14th. A pivotal moment for Hastings was her Olympic Team Trials Marathon. “In 2012 I was dead set on making the Olympic team in the marathon,” says Hastings. “I worked harder than I ever have in my life leading up to it, but on the day of the race the girls I went up against were just better and I finished fourth. I was devastated, but I knew a few months down the road I would have a slim shot of making the team on the track. I cried every day for a month, but continued to put everything I had into practice. I was able to come back from the dreaded fourth-place finish in the marathon to win the U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m, securing my spot on the Olympic team and making every moment of hard work and emotional turmoil over the last four years completely worth it. That moment changed me as a runner and person. Now no matter what is thrown at me, I will never give up.” Hastings has represented the United States at World Half Marathon and Cross Country Championships.

I can’t wait to get out there and put all of my hard work to use.” Hastings has a degree in kinesiology from Arizona State University. She grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas, and says she feels the support from back home on a regular basis. “In my first year of high school, my cross country coach raced Boston and his excitement for the race rubbed off on me and has been growing ever since. I hope that all of the kids back home know that even though they grow up in a tiny town, that with the support of their amazing community they can accomplish things on a world level.” Hastings is an avid birder and has recently started playing the ukulele. She recently married elite athlete Alistair Cragg.

“Boston is not just a marathon, it’s the marathon.”