Kinsman Makes Olympic Trials
by David Pugh Buckeye Staff Writer

Rachel Kinsman

Rachel (Sauder) Kinsman, who ran to nine state high school championships and was an All-American in college, will make a second try for the U.S. Olympic Team as a marathon runner.

But she admits she probably won't be 100% for the trials. After all, her second daughter, Adison, was just born Oct. 25.

"I started training a couple of weeks ago. I'll train up through April, then just see where I'm at.

"I won't be 100%, but in four or five months, I'll be pretty close," she said.

The last time she tried out for the Olympic team, she missed the top-three cut, finishing 20th.

A total of 150 to 200 women from across the nation qualify for the trials.

"It's wonderful to qualify," she said.

The Olympic trials are held in Boston on Sunday, April 20, the day before the infamous Boston Marathon.

For the Olympic trials, runners will use a different course than the Boston Marathon.

Career

During her years at Archbold High School, the 1992 graduate won nine state titles.

One year, she won a cross country title, and would have won a second, but after finishing, she discovered that her blue-with-yellow tights violated an obscure Ohio High School Athletic Association ruling and disqualified her.

She picked up eight other championships in track, in the 1600- and 3200-meter events.

She attended Auburn University in Alabama, where she was second in the 10,000 meter her junior year, and third her senior year. It was while attending Auburn that she was named an All-American.

In 2000, she was a member of the U.S. Team that captured the bronze at the World Cross Country Championships. She was 36th overall, trailing only two other U.S. runners.

Her first 26.2-mile event was a 2003 marathon in Chicago, where she turned in her personal best time of 2:37:51. She has competed at the 26.2-mile distance three times since. Her most recent event was the 2006 Twin Cities Marathon, where she ran a 2:40:56.

Kinsman said she often sees some of the same women at the events. After taking the last year off from competitive running, she said it will be nice to see some of her friends again.

Family

She is married to Mike Kinsman. Their first child, Rayne was born Sept. 20, 2005.