Santucci preps for U.S. Olympic Team Trials
Dilliner resident Clara Santucci won the 2015 Pittsburgh Marathon in 2:34.06. It was Santucci's second consecutive marathon victory in Pittsburgh. A full interview with Santucci can be heard at www.observer-reporter.com, as the second episode of Mike'd Up with Mike Kovak.
Clara Santucci’s time of 2:31.39 at the 2013 Chicago Marathon qualified her for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, which take place Feb. 13, 2016, in Los Angeles.
Observer-Reporter's Mike Kovak talks to Clara Santucci via Skype.
There were times during the 2015 Pittsburgh Marathon when Dilliner resident Clara Santucci could see race leader Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton and other occasions when she couldn’t.
“Some of the miles that were the toughest during the middle portion of the race, miles 13-20, I couldn’t see her,” Santucci said. “I was tired. I was hoping she was more tired.”
Santucci’s hope proved true. After trailing a vast majority of the May 3 race, the former All-American runner at West Virginia University, who often runs the trails of Greene County, found something in reserve to overtake Tuliamuk-Bolton during the final mile and win the Pittsburgh Marathon a second consecutive year. Santucci became just the third repeat champion in the women’s race in a time of 2:34.06, a solid showing given the warm race conditions.
“I didn’t know I would be able to pull it off, and I wasn’t sure how it would go,” said Santucci, who runs professionally for Saucony and admitted to feeling pressure in defending her title. “I kept believing. I think I surprised myself.”
Santucci hopes the surprises keep coming, which is why she’s taken little time off since her victory in preparation for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Santucci’s top qualifying time of 2:31.39 came at the 2013 Chicago Marathon. The time ranks 10th among qualifiers, and, with future training focused on improving speed, Santucci believes faster times are ahead. Former McGuffey High School state champion cross country and track athlete Jeff Weiss qualified for the half marathon trials when he finished the 2014 Virginia Beach Half Marathon in 1:04.47.
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials take place Feb. 13, 2016, in Los Angeles.
“For a couple weeks after Pittsburgh, I took it pretty easy,” Santucci said. “I put in a few short workouts before I got back into it.”
Santucci is back into it these days. She’s running “around 100 miles a week” in hopes of placing in the top three in Los Angeles, which would guarantee a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. She plans to run in a half marathon or two and possibly some shorter races before the trials, but hasn’t decided where just yet.
One thing is for certain, with every Pittsburgh Marathon win, Santucci’s following grows, even in rural regions of Greene County.
“People notice me running on the trials now. I really enjoy all the positive feedback I’ve gotten,” she said. “It’s been great. The support’s been awesome. It means so much.”