Jess McClain's rookie Boston run ends with her atop a decorated field of American women
'I probably have to take a step back and look at 2028 [Olympic trials] and what it's going to take to be on the podium at majors and make that team in 2028, and maybe dialing a little bit back in the other realms of my life and going a lot more in on running,' said McClain, who finished seventh overall in 2:22:43, some five minutes behind winner
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'Every time I'm on a stage like this, it's taking that step back and probably figuring out what the best approach is, but yes, I love being a part of the conversation. Hoping to be a part of the conversation for quite some time.'
Joining McClain in the women's top 10 was Annie Frisbie from Hopkins, Minn., who finished eighth in 2:23:21.
Medford's Emma Bates, the top American woman here the last two years, was third this year and 13th overall in 2:25:10.
Emma Bates runs Heartbreak Hill on Monday.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Both McLain and Frisbie ran their fastest marathons — McLain by a bit more than three minutes, Frisbie by a bit less in her second Boston run.
McClain found the race to both her liking and expectations.
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'I've heard historically from many people for years and years and years that it will play well towards the end if I stick to my guns and run my own race,' she said. 'So I really tried to do that today, but it's hard seeing the pack kind of go a few miles in and trying to exercise restraint.'
Holding back worked in the end.
'I knew that it was likely going to feel a little bit warm toward the latter half of the race, and I've been training super consistently on hills, so I thought if I was a little bit patient early on, it would pay off,' said McClain. 'And we had an awesome pack of Americans. It was Emma Bates, Sara Hall and [me] pretty much through the first half of it. So we just worked together, sucked the crowds in, and tried to just be patient and work our way up.'
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Working her way up to a podium as a medalist at a major marathon or the Olympics is hardly a farfetched dream for McClain. She posted fourth-place finishes at the 2024 US Olympic trials in both the marathon and 10,000 meters, plus at the 2023 Grandma's Marathon in Minnesota.
'It was a bittersweet moment that it happened three times this past year, just being that shy of making a team in some capacity,' said McClain, who won the 2022 Mesa (Ariz.) Marathon. 'But today, it felt like a win for me. I hope one day to contend for a podium.'
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