PUBLISHED 11/03/2007
In 2004 Brian Sell led the Olympic Marathon Trials for 16 miles before fading. Today he ran strongly every step of the distance and raced himself onto the 2008 USA Men's Olympic Marathon Team. Sell, of the big Hanson Brooks team, finished third in 2:11:40.
Rw: How are you feeling?
Brian Sell: This is one of the greatest days of my life, aside from probably the birth of my daughter. It has been 13 years in the making for me. I'll tell you, the future of American distance running looks great. These guys are amazing. They're tough in the marathon and they're still young.
RW: What was your race strategy?
BS: The plan was to let the field determine the pace the first couple of miles, anything from 3 to 6 miles. But when we went out in 11 flat for 2 miles, I just knew I had to keep it honest to have any chance at all. I was just trying to run right around 5 minutes flat every mile, and I didn't have many miles above 5 flat. That tells you how fast these guys were running out there. I was just lucky to pick up the carnage they left behind.
RW: Does this validate your position as one of the top American marathoners?
BS: I guess the proof is in the pudding. In high school I was probably a minute and something slower than these guys in the 2 mile. I'm just so happy today. I hope every kid out there who's not a state champ or district champ looks at what I achieved today and says: Hey if I put in the work, I can do this. This is the happiest ending I can think of.
RW: When did you know you were going to catch Dan Browne?
BS: I didn't know that Dan had to stop and stretch at one point. I was just trying to keep it relaxed and then to attack on the last lap. When I saw Dan with a lap to go, I didn't want to run too hard and kill myself, because that's a long loop around. I'm just happy I timed it right.
RW: When did you know you had third place locked up?
BS: Honestly, I never knew. I never wanted to really think about it until I crossed the finish line. I just tried to go as hard as I could until the end.
