Jacklin Leads Local Trio Into Trials Holman, Morlan Also Qualify For U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials

Gayle Jacklin didn’t want to sound like a desperate woman, but she was.

Especially after organizers rejected her late entry for last Saturday’s St. George (Utah) Marathon.

“I got it returned with a big red stamp across the front that said, ‘entries closed,”’ the Post Falls resident said. “I was so heartbroken.

“I sent two faxes to the race director and made several phone calls,” Jacklin added. “I said, I’m 31 years old. I may not have another opportunity (to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team), and how disappointed I was.”

Jacklin’s frantic persistence worked … all the way to first place in the 26.2-mile race.

“I’ve never won a race in my life,” Jacklin exclaimed Monday over a celebratory apple fritter. “This is my first victory, including all my years of high school racing. It’s so thrilling.”

Police escorted the petite Jacklin the final 6 miles. Her time of 2 hours, 40 minutes, 8 seconds shattered her previous personal best by 18 minutes.

Jacklin’s time was also well under the qualifying standard of 2:50 for the women’s Olympic Marathon Trials Feb. 10 in Columbia, S.C. Times lower than 2:42 guarantee a seed position at the Trials, as well as an all-expense paid trip.

Two Spokane men also qualified for the Olympic Trials. Stan Holman ran 2:19:54 in finishing seventh and Chris Morlan was eighth in 2:20:40.

In meeting the “A” qualifying standard of 2:20, Holman also will have his way paid to the Trials Feb. 17 in Charlotte, N.C. Morlan just missed an expense-paid trip, but easily met the qualifying standard of 2:22.

Jacklin led the St. George race the first 11 miles, averaging 5:51 per mile. She regained the lead in the 18th mile and finished at a 6:03 pace.

“At 24 miles (spectators) were all shouting, ‘Olympic Trials, Olympic Trials,”’ Jacklin said. “One of the little girls held out the water. When I touched her hand, she said, ‘I touched the hand of the winner!”’

Remarkably, St. George was only Jacklin’s fourth marathon - the result of a 1994 New Year’s resolution. In April, Jacklin ran 55th overall in the Boston Marathon, timed at 2:58:45. In May, she struggled to second (3:07:56) in the Coeur d’Alene Marathon.

“I jeopardized my health by running that race,” Jacklin admitted. “I never should have run. I swore I never would run another marathon.”

Jacklin took six weeks off.

Her personal trainers, David and Melanie Candia of CdA, had other plans. In mid-July, he tossed out the idea of the 1996 Olympic Trials.

And she accepted the challenge.

Holman, 30, and Morlan, 28, were competing in their fourth marathon in 12 months in an attempt to meet the qualifying standard.

“We had to keep trying,” said Holman. “Fortunately, we don’t have to do another one … “

They ran together the first 7 miles when Holman took off in pursuit of the leaders.

“A guy caught me about 23 miles and we pushed each other beyond what either of us would have done alone,” Holman said. “He beat me by a second, but he got me under 2:20.”