Kellyn Taylor Runs 2:24 At Grandma's Marathon, U.S. 7th Fastest All-Time
Kellyn Taylor Runs 2:24 At Grandma's Marathon, U.S. 7th Fastest All-Time
Kellyn Taylor crushed the Grandma's Marathon course record in 2:24:28 to become the seventh-fastest all-conditions American woman in the marathon.
Kellyn Taylor of HOKA NAZ Elite crushed the Grandma's Marathon event record in 2:24:28 on Saturday to become the seventh-fastest American woman of all-time in any marathon.
The 31-year-old took more than four minutes off her personal best—which dated back to January of 2015. The previous event record was 2:26:32; Taylor's time was designated an "event record" instead of a "course record" due to a slight course alteration.
Kellyn Taylor (@kellyn_taylor) wins the @GrandmasMara in a NEW COURSE RECORD of 2:24:28! #Gmas18 @NAZ_Elite @HOKAONEONE #timetofly pic.twitter.com/SQBWcPVMwt
— Josh Cox (@JoshCox) June 16, 2018
The race in Duluth, Minnesota is a point-to-point course and thus not eligible for record-setting (neither is the Boston Marathon) but her time stands as the seventh-fastest all-conditions mark of all-time for an American woman.
Below is a list of the top ten all-time all-conditions American women's marathoners:
| TIME | ATHLETE | YEAR |
| 2:19:36 | Deena Kastor | 2006 |
| 2:20:57 | Jordan Hasay | 2017 |
| 2:21:14 | Shalane Flanagan | 2014 |
| 2:21:21 | Joan Samuelson | 1985 |
| 2:21:42 | Amy Cragg | 2018 |
| 2:22:38 | Desiree Linden | 2011 |
| 2:24:28 | Kellyn Taylor | 2018 |
| 2:24:52 | Kara Goucher | 2011 |
| 2:25:38 | Laura Thweatt | 2017 |
| 2:26:22 | Magdalena Lewy Boulet | 2010 |
For the win, Taylor earned a $20,000 payday, including a $10,000 bonus for running under 2:29. She also received a 2018 Toyota Yaris (or the cash equivalent) for breaking the course record.
She also got a much-needed confidence boost after dropping out of the Boston Marathon in April.
“I had never dropped out of a race before. I had never been so cold in my life, and I’m a Wisconsin girl. I was sore from shivering afterward,” Taylor said to Kevin Pates for the Star Tribune. “I was so glad to be able to come here and show what I’m capable of.”
Marathon weekend in Duluth also included the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, which saw two-time Olympian Kara Goucher place 21st overall in 1:18:15.
The 39-year-old told media after the race that she felt off due to a personal, non-running-related issue that will be resolved next month.