Molly Bookmyer (born Molly Jacobsen) is an American long-distance runner and brain cancer survivor. She has twice qualified for the US Olympic marathon trials.
College
Bookmyer was a walk-on cross-country and track athlete at Ohio State University.[4] She ran cross country for three years and track for two, where she focused on the steeplechase.[5]
Professional career
In 2024, Bookmyer won the Twin Cities Marathon and set a new marathon personal best time of 2:28:52.[6]
Bookmyer qualified for the 2024 US Olympic marathon trials by running a 2:30:37 at the 2023 Toronto Waterfront Marathon. She had hoped to run have a break-through race and run 2:27, but was well-within the qualifying standard of 2:37.[7] At the Olympic marathon trials, Bookmyer dropped out after 12 miles.[8]
Bookmyer qualified for the 2020 United States Olympic marathon trials by running a 2:44:07 at the Chevron Houston Marathon in 2019.[10] However, she was unable to race as she was diagnosed as having a femoral neck stress fracture the week before the trials.[11]
Personal life
Bookmyer married her husband Eric in 2017.[12] Her husband was also diagnosed with cancer, and Bookmyer took time off running as a result.[13] However, Bookmyer started running again as a means to reduce stress but quickly regained her competitive drive and set out to qualify for the 2020 US Olympic marathon trials to honor her husband.[14]
At the age of 25, Bookmyer was diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumor and has since undergone two brain surgeries.[15]
^Oller, Rob (29 October 2021). "Clintonville's Molly Bookmyer overcomes physical trials on way to NYC Marathon". The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio).
^Zgoda, Jerry (7 October 2024). "Perfect day for breaking away - Kimining, Bookmyer claim titles in the return of the Twin Cities Marathon". Minnesota Star Tribune.
^Barnes, Matt (22 January 2024). "Former college walk-on overcomes tumor to make Olympic trials dream come true". NBC - 13 WHO (Des Moines, IA).
^Zgoda, Jerry (7 October 2024). "Perfect day for breaking away - Kimining, Bookmyer claim titles in the return of the Twin Cities Marathon". Minnesota Star Tribune.
^Wellens, Matt; Hoverman, Reagan (26 June 2024). "In a class by - Belarusian Olympian Mazuronak wins women's marathon by more than six minutes". Duluth News-Tribune.
^"AND THE WINNERS ARE". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA). 6 May 2024.
^Behrens, Cole (17 October 2022). "columbus marathon - Crossing the line - Marathon winners better previous times during Sunday's event". Columbus Dispatch, The (OH).
^Nowacki, Jon (19 June 2022). "LINDWURM'S 'BEST DAY EVER' - Eagan native brings another Grandma's Marathon title home". Duluth News-Tribune.
^"NAZ Elite's Tuliamuk wins 11th national title, other Flagstaff-based runners stand out in Grand Rapids". Arizona Daily Sun, The (Flagstaff, AZ). 14 May 2022.
^"2022 Chevron Houston Marathon/Aramco Houston Half Marathon top results". The Houston Chronicle. 16 January 2022.
^Schmidt, Lori (17 October 2021). "Former Buckeye, current Nationwide Children's employee wins Columbus Marathon women's division". Columbus Dispatch, The (OH).
^"Martin finishes first in Van Wert 4 Mile". Lima News, The (Ohio). 10 July 2021.
^Wallner, Peter (11 May 2019). "River Bank Run 25K: A record-setting performance, times two". Grand Rapids Press, The.
^Ward, Allison (27 April 2019). "Canadian runners flock to Columbus for half marathon". The Columbus Dispatch.
^"RUNNING; Results". Houston Chronicle. 21 April 2019.
^Malone, JD (28 April 2018). "Thousands run in 15th annual Capital City Half Marathon". The Columbus Dispatch.