Saina, Hrezi Qualify for Olympic Games

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State track and field program saw two former greats stamp their passports for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this past week. Betsy Saina emerged from a loaded field to take second in the women's 10,000-meter run, while Mohamed Hrezi got under the Olympic Standard in the marathon and will represent Libya in August.

Saina, a three-time national champion and 11-time All-American during her cross country and track and field careers at Iowa State, has continued her rise through the women's distance ranks this season. Training at Bowerman Track Club in Portland, Oregon, Saina earned her first career bid to the Olympics by finishing her 10K in 32:04.83, with only defending World Champion Vivian Cheruiyot finishing ahead of her. This will mark Saina's second time representing Kenya on the world stage, as she also competed in the 10,000 at the 2015 World Championships.

Hrezi, a 2013 cross country All-American and dual-citizen through his Libyan parents, has been training with the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project in Rochester, Michigan. In his competitive marathon debut at Chicago last year, he clocked a 2:23:14, four seconds short of the Olympics standard. The third time was a charm at the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon on May 29, when Hrezi crossed the line in seventh place overall, but more importantly in 2:18:40. Last week, Hrezi got his confirmation from the Libya Athletics Federation that he would represent the North African nation in the marathon.

Saina will compete in the women's 10,000-meter run on Aug. 12 at 9:10 a.m. Central Time. Hrezi and the men's marathon goes off on Aug. 21 at 7:30 a.m. CT.

Iowa State University Athletics

Saina, Hrezi Qualify for Olympic Games

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