Jeuland Races Olympic Marathon Trials


NEW YORK -- Swarthmore alum Marc Jeuland '01 competed in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City this past Saturday, Nov. 3. He completed the 26.2 mile course, concentrated in Central Park to simulate the 2008 Olympic track in Beijing, in 2:31:31 for 93rd place out of the 104 runners who finished.

Jeuland qualified for the Trials last October with a time of 2:20:33 at the 2006 Chicago Marathon.

“Jeuland was running great until the 17th mile,” Swarthmore cross country and track & field head coach Peter Carroll recalled after watching the race. At his high point, Jeuland was in 24th place, on pace for a 2:17 finish. Unfortunately, at mile 19, Jeuland suffered a cramp in his quads triggered by the hilly course, causing him to lose his spot.

Jeuland remarked after the race that he was still pleased with his race, remarking that he would not have raced any differently. Carroll agreed, saying that Jeuland started a smart race, with a controlled pace and steady breathing. He was “proud of [Jeuland’s] progression.”

Jeuland has certainly continued to progress after his success at Swarthmore. While a student, he was a two-time All-America, as well as a two-time Centennial Conference champion and the College record-holder in the indoor 5,000 meter and the outdoor 10,000 meter events. During his senior year, he was captain of the cross-country team, as well as the indoor and outdoor track & field teams. Jeuland graduated with an Honors degree in Engineering and a minor in Chemistry and was selected to the Verizon Academic All-America Second Team.

Jeuland has now entered his fourth year as a doctoral student in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Following graduation from Swarthmore, he lived in Bamako, Mali serving two years with the Peace Corps. It was there that he started his work on water and sanitation issues in developing nations and also on international water resources planning and managing, the topics of his current PhD research. Carroll highlights the accomplishment of continuing to excel despite the difficulties of maintaining rigorous running schedules and workouts while working abroad. “It is a tribute to his talent and dedication,” Carroll observed.

Many alumnae traveled to New York to watch their teammate race. Jeff Doyon and Karen Lloyd ’00, Ambrose Dieringer and two-time All-America runner Joko Agunloye ’01, James Golden ’05, Jones Nauseef ’06, and founder of the women’s cross-country team Larry Ehmer ’82, were found cheering on the sidelines of the course.

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