U.S. Marathoners Run for Tokyo Olympic Spots

(ATR) The Olympic spirit returns to Atlanta for the U.S. Olympic Marathon trials hosted by the Atlanta Track Club along with USA Track and Field.

The race begins at noon eastern time Feb. 29 with NBC the broadcast and internet rights holder.

The top three men and women will join Team USA during Tokyo 2020.

Athletes finishing fourth and fifth will be selected as alternates.

More than 700 athletes are expected at the starting line on Saturday. The field includes elite runners vying for the Olympics but most of the 711 runners are amateur.

The 1996 Olympic cauldron near downtown Atlanta will be relighted for the duration of the race.

"I think it will be fantastic," five time Olympian Bernard Lagat tells Around the Rings.

"This is the Olympics that I seriously almost made it. I made it to the finals but I was still inexperienced, I didn’t know how to run with the professionals. So its fun to be back in Atlanta the city I almost made the team for. After missing that team in 1996 I said I’m going to come back stronger and I’m going to make the next Olympics. I made it in 2000 so this is the place that gave me the fire and desire to go to the Olympics."

Since the 2016 trials there's been a big jump in the number of women runners to 510 t of women runners has increased. For this year’s trials, women’s runners take a huge percentage.

A total of 510 women and 261 men qualified.

Athletes will run the 26.2 mile course throughout Atlanta’s historic landmarks and attractions.

"I’m really excited to see what the course has. I ran the eight mile back in July in Atlanta last year I kind of got to see a little bit of the sights. But I think during the race I try to distract myself and focusing on being in not as much pain." Kellyn Taylor tells Around the Rings.

At 45, Lagat is the oldest athlete for the men’s race. If Lagat qualifies this will be his sixth Olympic Games, the most for any track and field athlete

"I feel like I am wiser because I am older. It feels really good to have competed for a long time, my first Olympics was in 2000. I think I am going to bring in that mentality of being here for a long time and going to use the experience I gained over the years with competing against these amazing athletes."

Due to concerns about the extreme heat in Tokyo, the IOC elected to move the Olympic marathon to a new location in Sapporo, 500 miles north of Tokyo.

"I have mixed feelings about the move. I feel like being moved away is taking away that excitement of the Olympics being in the city that is hosting the Olympics," said Lagat.

"Athletes can prepare better in conditions hotter than Sapporo. Because you’re going to feel the same feeling there."

Reported by Greer Wilson

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