MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Doddridge County native is less than two months away for competing for a spot in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Clara Santucci is running the hilly streets of Morgantown 120-miles a week in preparation for the U.S. Women’s Marathon Olympic Trials set for Feb. 13 in Los Angeles. She shared her dream during a Tuesday appearance on MetroNews “Talkline.”
“I’ve definitely got a chance. It’s there. I’m looking for some people to fail, fall apart. The marathon is such a grueling event, that could happen easily,” Santucci said.
MORE watch Santucci’s story here
Only the top three finishers make the Olympic team. Santucci, 28, finished seventh in 2012 and was an alternate.
Growing up in Doddridge County, she was home schooled through fifth grade. A school coach noticed her love for running and encouraged her to go out for track. She did.
“I loved running. It was simple enough it was something I could do in the country,” she said. “I had watched the Olympics from an early age and had loved the inspiring stories.”
Following a record-breaking high school career she took her talents to WVU where the winning continued. Success has increased post-college. Santucci is a two-time champion of the Pittsburgh Marathon and is considered an elite distance runner. Her personal best for a marathon is 2:29:54. She believes she’ll need a 2:27:00 or better to make the Olympic team.
Santucci is not known for her speed but rather for her endurance, which, she said, is good in marathon running.
“It’s not really about being fast in the end. It’s about being able to run at the end and people really fall apart at the end,” she said. “If you actually maintain the pace that you start at it looks like you are dropping people left and right.”
Running is mental also, Santucci said. There’s a progression of thought that she goes through during the grueling parts of a race.
“I believe everyone has a talent, has something they’re here for,” she said. “I always searched for that and running became something where I could always find improvement for myself.”
As more and more people learn of Santucci’s story one may think the pressure is building. Not so, Santucci said.
“It makes me want to do it for more than just myself, especially if I have more people out there cheering for me,” she said. “That’s a motivator for me. It’s not pressure.”
You can help with Clara’s training costs by donating at Gofundme.com/clara26.