April 20, 2008

BOSTON - Head women's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Ann Alyanak raced in the U.S. Olympic Trials - Women's Marathon on Sunday in Boston, a day before the 112th Boston Marathon, finishing the race with a time of 2:34:46, good for seventh place.

Although Alyanak did not qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing this summer, she did post a personal best time in the marathon by more than four minutes.

Her previous personal best time was recorded at last year's Boston Marathon in 2:38:55 where she finished as the second American and ninth woman overall.

The top three finishers: 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor (2:29:35), Magdalena Lewy Boulet (2:30:19) and Blake Russell (2:32:40) will represent the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games.

A 60-minute highlights show of the Olympic Trials will air on MSNBC on Sunday, April 27 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET.

In her four seasons as UD head coach, Alyanak's squads have been named to the All-Academic Cross County Team by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, meaning the team has maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. Competitively, Alyanak has coached 15 of the top 30 fastest UD runners in the program's history.