Runners With CT Ties In Olympic Marathon Trials
Two years ago, Ryan Bak had pretty much given up on his competitive running career.
He still ran a few times a week while coaching cross country and track at St. Louis University. He had qualified for the Olympic Trials twice (in 2004 and 2008) in the 5,000 meters, but injuries wore him down, and he didn't believe that his body could handle any more training.
He didn't know it then, but a competitive spark still flickered inside him.
Bak, a Suffield native and 2003 Trinity College graduate who lives in Bend, Oregon, will run in the U.S. Olympic Marathon trials Saturday (8 a.m.) in Houston. He is one of three runners from Connecticut to compete — Shannon McHale, 40, of Simsbury will run in the women's race; and Lucas Meyer, 28, of Ridgefield, will line up with Bak.
