Fiona O’Keeffe, age 25, is an American long-distance runner. She achieved a remarkable feat by winning the 2024 United States Olympic trials in the marathon event, which was her very first marathon competition. This victory secured her qualification to represent the United States at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Fiona O’Keeffe Qualified For 2024 Paris Olympics
Fiona O’Keeffe, who qualified with a half marathon time, became the first woman ever to win the race in her marathon debut and broke the Trials record. Every step of her 26.2 miles to the finish at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials saw O’Keeffe breaking records.
The 25-year-old — running a marathon for the first time — was an unexpected winner. O’Keeffe, who had qualified for the Trials with a half marathon time, raced ahead of more experienced women in the field, breaking away around mile 19 to finish in 2:22:10, setting a new Trials record.
Not only did O’Keeffe break the Olympic Trials record, but she also became the first woman to win the Trials in a marathon debut and the youngest to win since Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1984. Despite leading for nearly half the race, the Puma-sponsored runner said she didn’t feel her win was certain.
“I started to hear people saying, ‘You’re going to Paris! You’re going to Paris!’” “But I knew there were so many strong women behind me, and I was running scared a little bit.”
she said in the post-race press conference.
Finishing second behind her was Emily Sisson, the current American marathon record-holder and a favorite coming into the Trials. She came in 32 seconds after O’Keeffe in 2:22:42 on a warm day in Orlando. Taking third was an overjoyed Dakotah Lindwurm, 2 minutes and 49 seconds behind Sisson. These three women will represent the U.S. in Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Her record-breaking debut at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials not only secured her a place in history but also marked the beginning of a promising chapter in American distance running.
As O’Keeffe prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympics we all await with anticipation what she can do in the marathon on the world’s biggest stage.
Currently, O’Keeffe trains with Puma Elite, a team based in Cary, North Carolina, led by former professional runners Alistair and Amy Cragg.
Fiona O’Keeffe’s Date of Birth, Siblings, Parents, and Early life
Fiona O’Keeffe was born on May 24, 1998, in Davis, California. Her hometown is Sacramento, CA, where she attended Davis Senior High School. She is currently sponsored by Puma. For college, O’Keeffe attended Stanford University and the University of New Mexico.
O’Keeffe is very grateful to have a wonderful family who are enthusiastic about running, her parents, Malcolm and Liv, both ran in high school.
O’Keeffe’s younger sister, Olivia, was born on November 3 in Davis, California. Olivia is a talented athlete in her own right, having been a member of the ninth-place team at the NCAA, scoring for the University of Washington at the NCAAs and the Pac-12 Championships.
Although she has since focused on her psychology research, Olivia was a state champion in 2016 and a member of the 2015 and 2016 NXN runner-up teams.
Most of O’Keeffe’s extended family is still based in the Sacramento area, where she grew up. Her paternal grandfather ran the hurdles competitively while in the Navy, and her maternal grandfather competed in distance events for the University of Kansas.
O’Keeffe’s coach, Amy Cragg, is a significant inspiration because of her success in both track and marathon events, proving that transitioning to the marathon does not limit an athlete’s abilities.
Fiona O’Keeffe’s Early beginning of her career
In 2016, while a student at Davis Senior High School, O’Keeffe won the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) California State Meet title in the 3200 meters and was a two-time state cross-country champion. She also ran 15:56.84 for 5000 meters at the USATF (USA Track & Field) U20 Outdoor Championships, making her the 6th-fastest high school performer of all time in that event.
Also Read: Paris Olympics Marathon Team USA Runner Emily Sisson Husband Shane, Family, Age, Height and Weight
In 2019, O’Keeffe joined the Stanford Cardinal track and field program, where she competed from 2016 to 2019. At Stanford, she qualified for six NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I championships, with her best placing being 3rd in the 5000 meters at the 2019 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.
In 2020, O’Keeffe participated in the Track Meet at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California, where she competed in the 10000-meter event and finished in 5th position.
Fiona O’Keeffe Prime on her Career and Olympics
In 2022, she participated in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, in Houston, TX a Half Marathon event where she placed 4th. In June of the same year, she took part in the Portland Track Festival at Griswold Stadium in Portland, OR, a 5000-meter event where she secured 4th position. O’Keeffe also participated in the Sound Running Sunset Tour #1 at Jack Kemp Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, a 3000-meter event where she placed 2nd.
She continued her strong performances at the NACAC Championships held at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport, finishing 2nd in the 5000-meter event. Notably, she won the USA 10 Mile Road Running Championships in Minneapolis, MN, a 10-mile Road event.
In February 2023, O’Keeffe participated in the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational at the Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center in Boston, MA, a 5000-meter event where she ranked 3rd. In March, she competed in the TEN event at JSerra Catholic HS in San Juan Capistrano, CA, a 10000-meter race where she secured 5th position. In May of the same year, she claimed another 1st place finish at the Track Festival in Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, CA, a 10000-meter event.
O’Keeffe’s career reached new heights on February 3, 2024, when she won the 2024 United States Olympic trials marathon in Orlando, Florida, qualifying her to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Remarkably, this was her first marathon, having qualified for the trials with a half-marathon result.
