Molly Huddle vs. Joyce Chepkirui, photo by PhotoRun.net
Molly Huddle set a new AR and won a highly contested half marathon last weekend. After facing criticism and ridicule for her fourth place finish in the Beijing 10,000m, where she let up with a step to go, Molly Huddle went on a racing spree unseen in American women’s distance running, winning the USA 20k, USA 5k, USA 10 miles, Tufts 10k, and USA 12k all in a row. It was obvious the heartache from her Beijing run had affected her.
Her 5000 meters indoors at the Millrose Games was a fantastic race. Her gutty finish with Betsy Sania was just centimeters from the win. A fun race to watch!
I have observed Molly Huddle for nearly a decade now, and I find her one of the most fascinating of athletes. Like all successful athletes, Molly Huddle is driven, and like all succcesful athletes, she searches for perfection, that perfect race, that perfect time.
Huddle is possessed of a hard work ethic, great support and a superb coach, in Ray Treacy. She also possesses a biting wit, which this writer has experienced first hand.
Her 10,000m in Beijing was heart braking in that Molly Huddle lost a medal and Emily Infeld won a medal, both doing what athletes do.
In NYC, Molly Huddle was fighting to the very end and won, far and square in my eyes. That she battled through the tape is not something lost on this writer. She is probably haunted by the Beijing race, and that lesson will take her to greater heights this year.
In a fine interview by one of our finest new journalistic talents, Chris Chavez, writing for SI.com, did the following interview of Molly Huddle: http://www.si.com/more-sports/
Great races, truly great races, call all of the talents of the athletes involved the entire distance. The women’s distance races in Rio will be epic.
