Chevron Houston Marathon Results
Houston, Texas – (January 21, 2020) – If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Fordham alumnus
Thomas Slattery (GSB '18) kept that motto in mind this past weekend in an effort to qualify for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon. Five weeks ago, he missed qualifying by nine seconds in Sacramento, but Slattery made the most of a second chance in Houston, as he posted a marathon qualifying mark, finishing eighth overall.
In Sacramento for the CIM Marathon, Slattery ran 2:19:09, which missed the Olympic "B" standard for the Trials by nine seconds. Thinking he would not run another marathon until the Fall, he was encouraged by many friends and past coaches to "go for it" in Houston.
After convincing the race organizer to let him enter as a late entry, Slattery reached out to another runner and his fiancé to sleep on their couch the night before, and booked a plane ticket a week later.
In Houston, Slattery was able to run in a pack amongst other runners in a similar situation, including Peter Bromka, who at 38 years old, ran 2:19:02 in Sacramento. Slattery clocked in at 2:18:35 in the Chevron Houston Marathon, placing eighth overall and 1:17 behind the winner, Craig Hunt (2:17:18)
"The opportunity to race at the Trials has been one of my biggest goals throughout my running career and I truly owe it to my support system for encouraging me to roll the dice once again after coming so close in Sacramento," said Slattery.
The U.S. Olympic Trials for the marathon will be held on February 29
th, in Atlanta, Georgia.
