Molly Seidel races to bronze, becomes third American woman to medal in marathon at Olympics Tom Schad USA TODAY

 

TOKYO — Molly Seidel had dreams of winning an Olympic medal in the women's marathon Saturday, but she is also a realist. She looked at the other names in the field. She saw the personal bests, many of them five minutes faster than her own. 

"I was hoping to be top 10, really," Seidel said.

So when she crossed the finish line Saturday morning, behind only a pair of Kenyans, Seidel had surprised even herself. She pumped her fists and let out a celebratory yell. On a muggy morning in Sapporo, Japan, she became an Olympic bronze medalist, finishing in a time of 2:27:46.

It was just the third marathon Seidel, 27, has ever run.

"Just trying to stick my nose where it didn't belong and just kind of get after it," she said. "I mean, Olympics only happens once every four years. You might as well take your shot."

Seidel, who splits her time between Boston and Flagstaff, Arizona, is just the third American woman to ever medal in the women's marathon. Joan Benoit won gold in the event in Los Angeles in 1984, and Deena Kastor took bronze in Athens in 2004.

Kenyans Peres Jepchirchir and Brigid Kosgei finished first and second in Saturday's race, respectively.

Seidel's performance in Sapporo was remniscient of her similarly stunning race at the U.S. Olympic trials in Atlanta, almost 18 months ago.

Few people expected her to even make Team USA, let alone contend for a medal. Although she won four NCAA championships at Notre Dame in cross country and track, the marathon is still a relatively unfamiliar distance for her.

"She's running with experience that she, quite frankly, doesn't have," NBC analyst Kara Goucher said during Saturday's broadcast.