.jpg) Seidel in 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | Molly Elizabeth Seidel (1994-07-12)July 12, 1994 (age 31) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 115 lb (52 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track,long-distance running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | 5000 m,10,000 m,Half marathon,Marathon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Puma[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Tim Broe 2017–19 Jon Green 2019–present[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic finals |
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| Personalbests |
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Medal record
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Molly Seidel (born July 12, 1994) is an Americanlong distancerunner. Seidel represented the United States at theGreat Edinburgh Cross Country in 2012, 2013, and 2018.[3] In her first-evermarathon,[4] Seidel placed second at the2020 U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials. Later, she went on to win thebronze medal in her third career marathon at the2020 Summer Olympics inTokyo. At theUniversity of Notre Dame, Seidel was a 4-timeNCAA champion, 6-time NCAA All-American, 6-timeAtlantic Coast Conference champion and 2016 femaleACC Athlete of the Year.
Seidel grew up inHartland, Wisconsin, and attendedUniversity Lake School. Molly wonGatorade National Female Cross Country Runner of the Year. She also was named Gatorade Wisconsin Female Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2011. Seidel won the 2011 nationalFoot Locker Cross Country Championships, breaking the tape in 17:22.[5] Seidel wonWisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association cross country, 1600m, and 3200m titles at the state meet all four years totaling 12 titles. Seidel earnedNew Balance Indoor Nationals mile and two-mile All-American honors in 2011. Seidel was invited to theBupaGreat Edinburgh International Challenge in Scotland where she placed third (15:16) in the 4K and was the firstUSA high school finisher.[6]
Seidel attended theUniversity of Notre Dame and was the 2015NCAADivision 1 national cross-country champion and the 2016NCAADivision I national indoor track and field 3000 meters and 5000 meters champion.[7] Seidel won 10,000 meters title at2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Seidel was a six timeAtlantic Coast Conference champion. She won theHonda Sports Award as the nation's top female cross country runner in 2016.[8][9]
| Year | Conference Cross Country | NCAA Cross Country | ACCindoor | NCAAindoor | ACCOutdoor | NCAAOutdoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | 19:36.2 1st | 19:28.5 1st | 3000 m 9:02.24 1st | 3000 m 8:57.86 1st | ||
| 5000 m 15:19.64 1st | 5000 m 15:15.21 1st | |||||
| 2014–15 | 20:11.2 5th | 20:23.4 19th | 10,000 m 33:39.70 2nd | 10,000 m 33:18.37 1st | ||
| 3000 m 9:10.63 1st | DMR 11:15.96 8th | |||||
| 5000 m 15:55.84 1st | 5000 m 15:48.31 6th | 5000 m 16:07.87 1st | ||||
| 2013–14 | 21:23.1 26th | 21:48.8 171st | 5000 m 16:31.27 8th | 5000 m 16:40.62 11th | ||
| 2012–13 | 21:45.3 22nd | 21:39.1 217th |
NOTE: Notre Dame was in theBig East in 2012–13 but moved to theAtlantic Coast Conference starting in 2013–14.
Seidel was invited to the 2012 BupaGreat Edinburgh International Cross Country in Scotland where she placed third (15:16) in the 4 km and was the first USA high school finisher.
Seidel placed fourteenth in 20:13 in 2016USATF National Club Cross Country Championships.[10] She ran the2017 USATF Road 5k ChampionshipsAbbott Dash to the Finishline 5k in 15:35, her professional debut road race representing Saucony.[11][12]
Seidel qualified to represent Team USA at the 2018Great Edinburgh International Cross Country in Scotland. Seidel finished third in the 6 km event in a time of 21:04, helping Team USA to an overall bronze.
Seidel continued the 2018 season with a 2nd place at the 2018USA Cross Country Championships. She qualified for Team USA at 2018NACAC Cross Country Championships inLa Libertad, El Salvador on February 17, 2018.[13]
InAtlanta, Georgia, at theU.S. Woman's Olympic Trials Marathon on February 29, 2020, Seidel broke from the pack along withAliphine Tuliamuk. Over the rolling hills of the course, the two pushed each other and took a large lead over third placeSally Kipyego. Seidel finished eight seconds behind Tuliamuk for a second place in 2:27:31.[14] She earned a spot on theUS Olympic Team and won $65,000.[15]
On October 4, 2020, Seidel ran theLondon Marathon and finished 6th overall. She was the second American woman, finishing with a personal best time of 2:25:13.
With the Olympic postponement, Seidel broke her personal mark in the half marathon atHampton, Georgia, running a 1:08:28 on February 28, 2021, in thePublix Atlanta Half Marathon held on the premises of theEchoPark Automotive Speedway, as the event was moved to Henry County because of Fulton County restrictions.
On August 6, 2021, Seidel won the bronze medal in the Tokyo 2020 marathon and was the first American woman to medal in the event sinceDeena Kastor's bronze in 2004.[16]
Seidel finished fourth at the2021 New York City Marathon with a time of 2:24:42, which was the fastest ever by an American woman. She won $50,000 in prize money--$25,000 for her fourth-place finish and $25,000 for finishing as the top American.[17]
In 2021, Molly Seidel participated in the Berbee Derby held inFitchburg, Wisconsin and set the record for the fastest run for an individual dressed as a turkey.[18]
On April 18, 2022, Seidel competed in the2022 Boston Marathon. She was in the lead pack for the first half of the race but ended up withdrawing after 16 miles due to a hip impingement.[19]
On October 8, 2023, Seidel competed in the2023 Chicago Marathon. In her first marathon start in eighteen months, Seidel finished in eighth place, the second American, in a personal best time of 2:23:07.[20]
On February 1, 2024, Seidel announced via her Instagram that she would not be racing in the2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon due to a broken patella and partially torn patella tendon.[21]
On November 2, 2025, Seidel started but did not finish theNew York City Marathon.[22]
| Competition | Rank | Time | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 US Olympic Team Trials | 2nd | 2:27:31 | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 2020 Feb 29 | Qualified for 2020 Tokyo Olympics |
| 2020 London Marathon | 6th | 2:25:13 | London, United Kingdom | 2020 Oct 04 | |
| 2020 Summer Olympics | 3rd | 2:27:46 | Tokyo, Japan | 2021 Aug 07 | 1st US medal since 2004 |
| 2021 New York City Marathon | 4th | 2:24:42 | New York City, USA | 2021 Nov 07 | Course record for an American woman |
| 2022 Boston Marathon | DNF | N/A | Boston, USA | 2022 April 18 | Dropped out around 16 miles (26 km) due to a hip injury[23] |
| 2023 Chicago Marathon | 8th | 2:23:07 | Chicago, USA | 2023 October 8 | New personal best[24] |
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing the United States | |||||
| 2021 | Tokyo Olympics | Sapporo, Japan | 3rd place | Marathon | 2:27:46 |
| 2018 | Great Edinburgh International Cross Country | Edinburgh,Scotland | 3rd place | 6 km | 21:04[25] |
| Team USA 3rd place | 81 points[26] | ||||
| 2013 | Great Edinburgh International Cross Country Junior Women | Edinburgh,Scotland | 12th place | 4 km | 14:35[27] |
| Team USA 3rd | 26 points[28] | ||||
| 2012 | Great Edinburgh International Cross Country Junior Women | Edinburgh,Scotland | 3rd place | 4 km | 15:16[29] |
| Team USA 1st | 16 points[30] | ||||
Seidel has spoken publicly about her experiences with bulimia, OCD, and ADHD.[31]
