Groner named to represent Team USA Track & Field at 2019 World Championships

Loretto, Pa. – Former Saint Francis student-athlete Roberta Groner has been named as one of three women to represent Team USA Track & Field in the marathon at the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar on September 27, 2019.

Groner competed at Saint Francis from 1996-99, becoming the school's first four-time all-conference cross country honoree. On the track, Groner still ranks among the school's top-10 all time in the 1,500 (4:41), 3,000 (10:10) and 5,000 meters (17:35).

Following the 1999 cross country season, she took 10 years away from running to become a nurse and mother to three boys. Gradually, Groner made her way back to consistent training. She took her first shot at the marathon in 2011.

The 41-year-old Groner makes her first national team after setting her personal best of 2:29:09 this April in Rotterdam, becoming only the third American woman over the age of 40 to break 2:30. She's one of only eight U.S. women who currently have the 2020 Olympic standard.

Groner finished 12^th at the 2018 New York City Marathon in 2:31:01 and was runner-up at the 2017 USATF Championships in Sacramento in 2:30:37. She also finished in 16th at Boston in 2017 and set a half marathon personal record of 72:20 at Philadelphia in 2018. Groner was seventh at 2018 USATF Half Marathon Championships.

Three male and three female athletes were selected from the three highest-placing performances during the qualifying window, based on marks set on an IAAF approved course from March 7, 2018 to May 5, 2019.

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