Genevieve Gregson runs Olympic qualifying time in just her second marathon

Australian runner Genevieve Gregson is on the verge of an Olympic comeback for the ages after running the third fastest marathon ever by an Aussie woman in Spain in just her second marathon and posting a qualifying standard time for the Paris 2024 Games.

The epic feat in the Valencia Marathon comes three years after Gregson was wheeled out of the Olympic stadium in Tokyo after rupturing her achilles on the last water jump of the women’s 3000m steeplechase final.

Gregson has undergone two achilles surgeries since that fateful night and given birth to her son Archer as well as making the move to marathon running, a move that has paid off.

She finished eighth overall as one of four Australians to post Olympic qualifying times.

“I shocked myself. I felt so good over the last 5k and I made up lots of time. At one point I thought I would be under 2:23 but in the end I just missed it,” Gregson said.

“I have never worked so hard as I have over the last two years. To see my name on that team sheet next year (if and when selected) is going to mean so much.”

The predicament facing selectors now looms as a tough one, with four runners qualified for only three available slots.

Trailing behind Gregson in Spain in 10th place was fellow Aussie Isobel Batt-Doyle, who ran a personal best, while Lisa Weightman was the third fastest Australian across the line to add a second Olympic qualifier to her run in Osaka this February

Eloise Wellings rounded out the Australian results, completing her eighth marathon.

Australian record holder Sinead Diver boasts the fastest qualifying time from last year’s iteration of the Valencia Marathon.