Events: Distance
Height: 5-5
Weight: 107
PRs: 3,000 - 8:51.57 (2006); 5,000 - 15:10.58 (2006); 10,000 - 31:35.25 (2005) Marathon - 2:30:32 (2004)
Current Residence: Marina, Calif.
High School: Forsyth Country Day (Winston Salem, N.C.) '93
College: North Carolina '97; Elon (N.C.) '00 (Masters)
Coach: Bob Sevene
Agent: Ray Flynn
Club: Reebok

Career Highlights: 3rd at 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials - Women's Marathon; 3rd at 2006 USA Outdoors 5,000m; 2005 USA Outdoor 10,000m runner-up; 4th at 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials; 4th at 2003 USA Outdoors 10,000m; 1999 Pan American Games 5,000m bronze medalist

After serving as a first alternate for the 2004 Olympic team, Russell made history by becoming the first American ever to qualify for an Olympic Team four years after being the first alternate when she finished third at the 2008 Olympic Trials - Women's Marathon on April 20 in Boston. The 2004 Olympic Trials were bitter for Russell. After leading through the first portion of the race, she had faded to the most bitter of finishes - fourth - to miss an Olympic berth by one place. At the '08 Trials in Boston, Russell ran in third nearly the entire race. At 20 miles, she appeared to be laboring a bit but she easily held on for third in 2:32:40. Russell ran a personal-best 31:35.25 to take second at the 2005 USA Outdoors, and she was 22nd at the World Outdoors...finished 15th in the 4k race at the 2005 World Cross Country meet, earning a bronze on Team USA...established herself as a legitimate long-distance contender in 2004 with her fourth-place finish at the Olympic Marathon Trials...she made the 2005 World Outdoor team with her second-place, PR finish 31:35.25) at the 2005 Outdoor Champs 10,000m...in 2003 she showed early potential after a fourth-place finish in the 10,000m (32:28:25) at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She then accomplished a more impressive feat by winning the Twin Cities Marathon (2:30:41) in her debut at the distance, achieving an Olympic "A" standard in the process...her marathon debut is the 4th fastest U.S. debut of all time...seventh in the 10,000m (32:20.26) at 2000 Olympic Trials...1999 Pan Am Games 5,000m bronze medalist...earned her bachelor's degree in psychology/exercise science from the University of North Carolina and her master's degree in physical therapy from Elon University in North Carolina...married to Jonathan Russell.

Competition Results:
2008: 3rd place at U.S. Olympic Trials - Women's Marathon (2:32:40)
2007: Did not compete at USA Outdoor Champs...1st at Stanford Invitational 10,000m (32:31.90)...dropped out of London Marathon...a broken bone in her foot (second metatarsal) and torn ligaments in one of her toes hampered her outdoor season...best of 32:31.90.
2006: 3rd at USA Outdoors 5,000m (15:19.07)...3rd in 1,500m at Reebok Grand Prix (4:06.71)...1st in 3,000m at adidas Track Classic (8:51.57)...1st in 3,000m at Lucerne (8:51.67)...2nd in 5,000m at Payton Jordan Invite (15:10.58)...ranked #1 in the U.S. at 3,000m and #4 in the U.S. at 5,000m by T&FN...bests of 8:51.57 and 15:10.58.
2005: USA Outdoor Championships 10,000m runner-up (31:35.25)...22nd in 10,000m at World Outdoor Championships (32:07.00)...4th at USA XC 4 km championships (13:30)...3rd at USA 15km champs (49:46)...15th at World XC (13:57, 2nd U.S. finisher), winning team bronze...!st in 5,000m at Palo Alto (15:26.20)...ranked #4 at 10,000m in the U.S. by T&FN...bests of 15:26.20 (5,000m) & 31:35.25 (10,000m).
2004: 4th at Olympic Marathon Trials (2:30:32PR)...1st in 5,000m at Payton Jordan (15:44.27)...ranked #5 in the U.S. by T&FN...best of 2:30:32 & 15:44.27.

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