Deena Kastor won’t try to make history at the U.S. Olympic marathon trials on Saturday.
Kastor, 42 and the last U.S. woman to earn an Olympic marathon medal (bronze, 2004), will not contest the 26.2-mile race in Los Angeles due to a recent glute muscle strain.
“I was diligent in resting, but my glute just won’t settle down,” Kastor said in a USA Track and Field press release.
If Kastor, the second-fastest U.S. female marathoner in 2015, had finished in the top three at the trials in Los Angeles (live on NBC and NBC Sports Live Extra on Saturday), she would have become the oldest U.S. Olympic runner of all time.
Kastor wasn’t thought to be a contender for the Rio Olympics until Oct. 11, when she clocked 2:27:47 at the Chicago Marathon. It marked her best time since her American record 2:19:36 at the 2006 London Marathon.
With Kastor out, the list of female contenders shrinks. That list still includes the top four women from the 2012 U.S. Olympic marathon trials -- Shalane Flanagan, Desi Linden, Kara Goucher and Amy Cragg.
Meb Keflezighi, 40, can become the oldest U.S. Olympic runner if he finishes in the top three in the men’s race Saturday.
U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Previews: Men | Women
Sidelined so late in the game. I'm out of the Trials but I'll see you in LA #LA2016 2 see who makes the Olympic team pic.twitter.com/8T8h2lETDs
— Deena Kastor (@DeenaKastor) February 10, 2016
