Michelle Lilienthal (runner)

Last updated
Michelle Lilienthal
Personal information
Born (1982-04-15) 15 April 1982 (age 42)
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Sport
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Event(s) Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km
College team University of Wisconsin
TeamDirigo RC
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s) Marathon: 2:34:50
Half Marathon: 1:12:46
10 km: 33:40

Michelle Lilienthal is an American distance runner who specializes in the marathon. She competed collegiately in cross country and track for the University of Wisconsin. After graduating, she qualified for four consecutive U.S. Olympic Trials Marathons (2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020). [1]

Contents

Early Life

Lilienthal grew up in Iowa City, Iowa and graduated from Iowa City High School in 2000. She didn't start running until her sophomore year, but achieved immediate success, winning seven Iowa state championships in cross country and track over her high school career. She also qualified for the 1999 Foot Locker National Cross Country Championship. [2]

At the University of Wisconsin, Lilienthal was an All-Big 10 honoree and competed for the Badgers at multiple NCAA Championships. She graduated in 2004 with a double major in Communications and Spanish. [3]

Career

2005 to 2013

After graduating from college, Lilienthal moved to Philadelphia and placed 3rd in the 2005 Philadelphia Marathon. [2] The following spring, she clocked a 2:40:23 time at the 2006 Boston Marathon, which placed her 2nd among American women and 16th overall. [3]

At the 2006 Twin Cities Marathon, Lilienthal dropped her time even further to 2:35:51, which qualified her for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon. [4]

In 2007 while living in Minneapolis and representing Minnesota Distance Elite, Lilienthal placed 3rd at the US Half Marathon Championships in Houston with a time of 1:12:46. [4]

At the 2008 US Olympic Trials in Boston, Lilienthal placed 85th of 148 women in a time of 2:48:46. [5]

She had hopes of contending for the Olympic team heading into the 2012 Olympic Trials, but was sidelined with injuries and unable to compete. [6]

Lilienthal returned to action at the 2013 Twin Cities Marathon, placing 4th with a time of 2:34:50, her personal best. The performance also qualified her for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles. [4]

2014 to Present

She relocated to Portland, Maine in 2014 and won the Maine Women's division of the Beach to Beacon 10K. Her time of 33:40 is the fastest a Maine woman has ever run in the race. [7] She repeated as Maine Champion in 2016 and 2018. [8]

In the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, Lilienthal was unable to finish on a hot and sunny day in Los Angeles. Over 25% of the women's field dropped out. [5]

Lilienthal placed 29th at the 2017 Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:44:05, which qualified her for the 2020 United States Olympic Trials (marathon) in Atlanta. [9]

In the fall of 2019, Lilienthal gave birth to her son. She ran 65 to 75 miles per week into her third trimester of pregnancy. [10]

Lilienthal resumed training after her son was born, but did not have enough time to regain her usual fitness. She competed in the 2020 US Olympic Trials Marathon in February 2020, but dropped out near halfway. [11]

Personal

Lilienthal lives in Portland, Maine with her husband and son, and she works as a consultant at Apple Inc. [1] She was previously married to Minnesota politician, Jacob Frey. [12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Michelle Lilienthal - 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon". Atlanta 2020 Trials. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  2. 1 2 Lowe, Cheryl (2008-03-19). "Michelle Lilienthal: Rapid Progress in the Marathon". FloTrack. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  3. 1 2 "Looking Back at Past Olympians: Michelle Lilienthal". Wisconsin Badgers Athletics. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  4. 1 2 3 "Michelle Lilienthal - World Athletics Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  5. 1 2 "Marathon Guide - Olympic Trials Results". Marathon Guide. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  6. ↑ Blount, Rachel (2009-08-19). "Woman has eyes on Beijing berth". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  7. ↑ "Course Records". Beach to Beacon 10K. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  8. ↑ Lowe, Mike (2018-08-04). "Little drama as Smith, Lilienthal win Maine titles at Beach to Beacon". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  9. ↑ "Chicago Marathon Results". Mika Timing - Chicago Marathon. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  10. ↑ Middlebrook, Hailey (2019-08-02). "Even at 7 months pregnant, Michelle Lilienthal wouldn't miss Beach to Beacon". Runner's World. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  11. ↑ Hopkins, Deborah (2020-01-26). "Q and A with former Iowa City prep star Michelle Lilienthal". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  12. ↑ Craig, Steve (2014-05-29). "Lilienthal keeps same dreams in a new state". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
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