The 41st Anniversary of the First USA Women's Olympic Marathon Trials
Joan Benoit-Samuelson is number one in the photo. Betty Jo Springs-Geiger is number 20. Lisa Larsen Rainsberger, formerly Lisa Larsen Weidenbach, is number eight.
Image Credit: Runners World
Thurston County Running History: This May, we celebrate a remarkable milestone—41 years since the inaugural U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials for women took place in the scenic city of Olympia, Washington.
The first marathon trials were a groundbreaking event that paved the way for female athletes in long-distance running. The standout of that historic day was Joan Benoit, who is now known as Joan Benoit-Samuelson. Not only did she triumph in the trials, but she also won the Gold Medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, capturing the hearts of many in the process.
That day at the trials was unforgettable as I stood alongside the legendary Doris Brown-Heritage, a true running icon. Just 16 years earlier, during her Olympic running career, there was a prevailing belief that women could only race up to 800 meters in the Olympic Games.
It’s incredible how far the sport has come since then, and being in the presence of such a trailblazer felt like standing at the intersection of history and progress! It was a historic day in Olympia and a much needed breakthrough in women's sports history.
The inaugural Olympic Marathon Trials were also an exciting milestone for our region and a celebration of women’s sports. Olympia clinched the honor of hosting the trials, triumphing over fierce competition, including New York City and others.
Saint Martin's University in Lacey, Washington, hosted the Olympic Trials participants for a few days. We picked up the runners from the airport and drove them to the university so they could train and rest before the trials. The logistics were impressive, ensuring that each qualifier felt at home.
Upon their arrival at Saint Martin's, each lady who qualified for the trials was given a hand-made pillow to commemorate the first-ever trials. This gesture was significant for many of the participants.
The energy was amazing the day of the trials as ABC's Wide World of Sports broadcasting team covered the event live, showcasing the talented athletes on a national stage. It was a historic day that brought the community together and highlighted the incredible achievements of women in athletics!
People from all over the U.S. came to watch the historic first-ever Olympics Marathon Trials event. The participants gave the first-ever trials great reviews because of the little fine details, like providing those handmade pillows to the ladies.
We were fortunate to host the first trials in our hometown, a memory many of us will cherish forever.
In the picture below, the ladies are running by the old Olympia Brewery.
Coach Weber
Thurston County Running and Track & Field Historian
Thurston County is in Washington State, about 60 miles south of Seattle.
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Joan Benoit-Samuelson returned to Olympia in 2019 to deliver a talk at the Capital City Marathon, decades after her victory at the trials. In the photograph, Benoit-Samuelson is presenting the first-place Capital City Marathon award to Linda Huyck. Linda herself qualified for the trials in 2000, and I served as her coach then and continue to do so to this day.