• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Track & Field

Molly Huddle: Transforming Disaster Into Inspiration, Resilient Athlete Captures 10,000 Meter Crown

Dave HunterbyDave Hunter
July 4, 2016
0
0 0
0
SHARES
6
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RunBlogRun opines: Molly Huddle is a student of the sport. A fine distance runner from 5,000 meters on up, Molly will be debuting over the marathon distance after the Rio Olympics, at the TCS New York City Marathon. But, from now until August, we will be seeing Molly Huddle on the track. Here is David Hunter’s story about her 10,000 meter victory on Day two.

Huddle_MollyLeds-USOlyTr16.jpGMolly Huddle leads the 10,000m, photo by PhotoRun.net

RelatedPosts

Coffee with Larry, The Running Event is Here!

Coffee with Larry, Some thoughts on Mike Fanelli, competitor, coach, elite manager, husband, friend to many, esteemed track & field historian

Coffee with Larry, The Running Event is upon us! Check out our great stories…

2016 U.S. Olympic Trials / Track & Field

Molly Huddle: Transforming Disaster Into Inspiration
Resilient Athlete Captures 10,000 Meter Crown

Eugene, Oregon
July 2nd, 2016

Everyone makes mistakes. They can’t be avoided. But it is the manner by which a person reacts to the inevitable mistakes – their demeanor; what they learn; how they move on – which can provide genuine insight into one’s character.

Last August in Beijing – in the final of the women’s world championship 10,000 meters – American distance star Molly Huddle committed a horrible gaffe. Only strides away from the finish line and what should have been a sparkling bronze medal performance, Huddle initiated a premature, pre-finish line celebratory arm-lifting display of joy. But there was no joy. That brief, regrettable gesture proved to be just enough to allow Emily Infeld – her hard-charging teammate – to barely slip by Huddle in the final stride to claim the medal that Huddle surely thought would be hers.

The commission of a horrific mistake in front of a capacity stadium crowd, a vast television audience, and countless more who viewed the virally-transmitted video would have been enough to devastate a lesser person. But Huddle found a way to transform crushing misfortune into a positive force in her life. “I’m trying to just learn from it,” Huddle reveals. “There’s not a ton I learned from it, to be honest. It’s sports. I’m trying not to dwell on it.” What did she do? Among other things, she went on a road race tear last fall – winning national road championships at 5K, 10K, 12K, and 10 miles. She rode that momentum on into 2016 by ringing up a second place performance at the Millrose Games 5000 meter run, nipping Joyce Chepkirui at the line to successfully defend her New York Half Marathon title, and grabbing the laurel wreath with a victory in the B.A.A. 5K on Patriot’s Day weekend. “I don’t think I’ll ever get over it,” explains Huddle matter-of-factly. “I just want to move past it, not dwell on it, and not let it steal anymore from me by fixating on it.”

On Day Two of these Trials, Huddle faced her biggest test yet since the “Beijing incident”: the Olympic Trials 10,000 meter final against a field of 23 other competitors which included her nemesis Infeld. The late morning start time – planned to avoid the late afternoon heat – proved unfortunate as a blazing sun and a cloudless sky turned the Hayward Field track into a furnace. Undaunted, Huddle wasted no time getting right to work. The American record holder at 5000 meters went right to the front and led the field through the first kilometer in 3:11 with Jordan Hasay, Aliphine Tuliamuk and Kim Conley tucked right in behind. “I debated about taking out the pace. But I didn’t want it be too much slower than 76-77. It was getting all bunchy, so I just decided to be safe and go to the front.”

The lead pack was still a robust 15 in number as Huddle crossed 2K in 6:23. The bunching Huddle feared ultimately caused disruption as a jostled Kim Conley nearly lost a shoe soon after the lead pack hit 3K in 9:36. After a quick track sit down to make the necessary footwear adjustment, Conley – always a gamer – popped back up and began a measured chase to regain contact with the leaders. Hers was a noble, valiant effort which ultimately proved unsuccessful.

By 4K – passed in 12:55 – Kellyn Taylor and former NCAA champion Murielle Hall had moved to the front grouping of the dwindling lead pack. By the time the leaders hit in halfway [16:08], the lead pack had been trimmed to around a dozen. Relentless in her pacing, Huddle, her plan to dispense pain from the gun, and the blazing heat were working to thin the herd. “I kept thinking that I have to trust that this is hurting them,” explained the pace-setter. “I knew I couldn’t get weak now.”

At 6K [19:19], the racing became serious as the pace quickened and Huddle led Tuliamuk, Hall, Hasay, Infeld and Laura Thweatt away as the others went out the back door. The war of attrition was underway. A 3:08 kilo brought Huddle to 8K in 25:38. In the process, the leader had jettisoned all but Hall, Infeld, and Tuliamuk. 5 laps remained as 4 athletes would play musical chairs for the three Olympic spots. Tuliamuk would be the first to let go.

With 800 remaining, only Infeld clung on to Huddle as Hall trailed, another 20 meters back. At the bell, Huddle had a 3 step lead over the world champion bronze medalist as the Notre Dame grad continued the pressure. Huddle simply pulled away – covering the final circuit in 68.7 to conclude a 2:56 final kilo – to cross the line in 31:41.62. Infeld -absolutely spent – crossed 2nd in 31:46.09 while former Longhorn star Hall took 3rd [31:54.77] to grab the third and final berth on Team USA women’s 10,000 meter Olympic squad.

Afterwards, Huddle – tired, but happy – reflected on the race’s end game. “With a lap to go, I just put everything I had into it. I just tried to stay calm,” the new champion said. “I know it wasn’t a fast time. I just wanted to make sure that I didn’t take any risks.” She also offered insight on her bold move to grab the lead from the gun. “I wanted it [the race] to be a little faster. I just wanted to stay out of trouble in the front there. But it can be hard and lonely in the front when there is no one next to you. I thought if I couldn’t break away in the first 5K, then I would wait until the last 1200. That’s just kind of what happened.”

A veteran of national championships and global gatherings, Huddle knows how to manage pressure on the big stage: “This is just such a spastical year. This meet is enormous. And the pressure can feel enormous,” she admitted. “So I’m just trying to not have an out-of-body experience on the track,” laughs Huddle. “I’ve learned to just tune that out and pretend it’s any other race.”

Huddle – who currently plans to compete at 5000 meters later at these Trials – downplayed any attempt to attach special significance to her last lap battle with Infeld. “I tried to just stay on the inside. As long as I was in the top three, I knew that took a lot of stress off of me,” Huddle declared. “I thought if Emily passes me, she passes me. I know she’s been injured, so I am glad that she made the team. I know she is thrilled with that. She’s really tough.”

A 2012 Olympian at 5000 meters, the new champion was asked about her versatility in making the ’16 Olympic team at 10,000 meters. “It’s cool to be able to move up. Maybe next time I’ll try the marathon. I think it would be cool just to have a taste of everything.” responded a serious Huddle with just a hint of playfulness. Those who have witnessed the extraordinary poise and strength Molly Huddle has exhibited in the past year know she could do it.

Author

  • Dave Hunter
    Dave Hunter

    Dave Hunter is an award-winning journalist who is a U.S. Correspondent for Track & Field News.  He also writes a weekly column and serves as Senior Writer for www.RunBlogRun.com, and covers championship track & field competition domestically and in such global capitals as Moscow, Birmingham, Zurich, Brussels, Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Zagreb, Ostrava, and Doha.  Hunter frequently serves as the arena or stadium announcer for championship track & field gatherings, including the Ivy League, the Big East, the Mid-American Conference, the NAIA, the Big Ten, and the Millrose Games.  Hunter has undertaken foreign and domestic broadcast assignments.  He ran his marathon P.R. 2:31:40 on the Boston Marathon course back in the Paleozoic Era.  To find out more about Dave, visit his website: www.trackandfieldhunter.com  He can be reached at: dave@trackandfieldhunter.com

    View all posts

Previous Post

Kelsey Card Makes Team U.S.A. with Third Place Finish and Heads to Rio, by Lindsay Rossmiller

Next Post

Follow the leader, in the women’s 10,000 meters, by Mark Cullen

Dave Hunter

Dave Hunter

Dave Hunter is an award-winning journalist who is a U.S. Correspondent for Track & Field News.  He also writes a weekly column and serves as Senior Writer for www.RunBlogRun.com, and covers championship track & field competition domestically and in such global capitals as Moscow, Birmingham, Zurich, Brussels, Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Zagreb, Ostrava, and Doha.  Hunter frequently serves as the arena or stadium announcer for championship track & field gatherings, including the Ivy League, the Big East, the Mid-American Conference, the NAIA, the Big Ten, and the Millrose Games.  Hunter has undertaken foreign and domestic broadcast assignments.  He ran his marathon P.R. 2:31:40 on the Boston Marathon course back in the Paleozoic Era.  To find out more about Dave, visit his website: www.trackandfieldhunter.com  He can be reached at: dave@trackandfieldhunter.com

Similar Post

Coffee with Larry (December 5, 2023), my 3 sisters birthdays, owning nicknames, my time at Bellarmine…
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry (December 5, 2023), my 3 sisters birthdays, owning nicknames, my time at Bellarmine…

December 6, 2023
The Munich Olympics at 50! Fourth  & Final In A Series – September 10th, 1972 – Bill Rodgers Smoking Cigarettes & Watching Frank Shorter Make History Across The Pond! 
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry (Dec. 4, 2023), Sound Running Brooks Cross Country Champs, Nike NXN, Cal International sends 27 men and 14 women to Orlando and Kenenisa Bekele sets Masters WR of 2:04.19 in Valencia

December 5, 2023
2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 14, Day 2…Today is Tempo Day…
Cross Country

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 14, Day 2…Today is Tempo Day…

December 5, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Dick Fosbury, the man who changed the High Jump, has died, 5,800 athletes in Boston, the complete story, Julien Alfred wins 60m and 200m at NCAA Indoor!

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing, Week 14, day 1, Monday is a recovery day…

December 4, 2023
2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 13, Day 7…Sunday is long run

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 13, Day 7…Sunday is long run

December 4, 2023
2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country, Training & Racing Program, Week 13, Day 6, a day at the races…

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country, Training & Racing Program, Week 13, Day 6, a day at the races…

December 3, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

August 27, 2023
An epic pole vault competition

An epic pole vault competition

October 19, 2023
2022 USATF Outdoor Champs: Melissa Jefferson takes the Women’s 100m title in windy 10.69!

The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

February 8, 2023
Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

July 17, 2023
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

7
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
2022 Munich Diary, Day Five, a Great Friday Night

2023 European Athletics Indoor Champs, The Women’s 60m, who will win the final tonight?

5
TCS New York City Marathon Broadcast to be Available in More Than 530 Million Homes Around the World on Sunday, November 6

RunblogRun Editorial: The Sorry State of Running Television Coverage, by Peter Abraham, note by Larry Eder

4
Coffee with Larry (December 5, 2023), my 3 sisters birthdays, owning nicknames, my time at Bellarmine…

Coffee with Larry (December 5, 2023), my 3 sisters birthdays, owning nicknames, my time at Bellarmine…

December 6, 2023
The Munich Olympics at 50! Fourth  & Final In A Series – September 10th, 1972 – Bill Rodgers Smoking Cigarettes & Watching Frank Shorter Make History Across The Pond! 

Coffee with Larry (Dec. 4, 2023), Sound Running Brooks Cross Country Champs, Nike NXN, Cal International sends 27 men and 14 women to Orlando and Kenenisa Bekele sets Masters WR of 2:04.19 in Valencia

December 5, 2023
2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 14, Day 2…Today is Tempo Day…

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 14, Day 2…Today is Tempo Day…

December 5, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Dick Fosbury, the man who changed the High Jump, has died, 5,800 athletes in Boston, the complete story, Julien Alfred wins 60m and 200m at NCAA Indoor!

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing, Week 14, day 1, Monday is a recovery day…

December 4, 2023

Popular Stories

  • USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

    Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • An epic pole vault competition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Coffee with Larry (December 5, 2023), my 3 sisters birthdays, owning nicknames, my time at Bellarmine…
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry (December 5, 2023), my 3 sisters birthdays, owning nicknames, my time at Bellarmine…

December 6, 2023
The Munich Olympics at 50! Fourth  & Final In A Series – September 10th, 1972 – Bill Rodgers Smoking Cigarettes & Watching Frank Shorter Make History Across The Pond! 
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry (Dec. 4, 2023), Sound Running Brooks Cross Country Champs, Nike NXN, Cal International sends 27 men and 14 women to Orlando and Kenenisa Bekele sets Masters WR of 2:04.19 in Valencia

December 5, 2023
2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 14, Day 2…Today is Tempo Day…
Cross Country

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 14, Day 2…Today is Tempo Day…

December 5, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Dick Fosbury, the man who changed the High Jump, has died, 5,800 athletes in Boston, the complete story, Julien Alfred wins 60m and 200m at NCAA Indoor!

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing, Week 14, day 1, Monday is a recovery day…

December 4, 2023

Recent Tweets

Next Post

Follow the leader, in the women's 10,000 meters, by Mark Cullen

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist