Carrie Dimoff Completes BTC’s Marathon Sweep

Nike footwear developer Carrie Dimoff wins the 2022 Eugene Marathon in 2:43.51. Photo by Logan Hanningan-Downs

By Cassie Cole

Bowerman Track Club’s Carrie Dimoff ran her way to first place at the Eugene Marathon on Sunday. Dimoff’s time of 2:43:51 was the second win of the day for BTC after teammate Tyler Morse took first place in the men’s marathon with a time of 2:20:29.

The win was bittersweet for Dimoff, who came in thirteenth in the women’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships in 2019. She was hoping to meet the marathon qualifying standard of 2:37.00 to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Trials. Partway through the marathon, Dimoff realized that she wouldn’t be able to reach her goal.

“We felt like it was just tough from the start,” said Dimoff. Dimoff, a Nike footwear developer, ran the marathon with fellow athlete and coworker Kaitlyn Peale. “We just refocused around halfway and said, ‘we’re just gonna finish.’”

“It was a struggle the whole way,” Dimoff added.

Finishing in itself proved difficult, however. Dimoff struggled after mile nine and at times didn’t know if she would be able to complete the marathon. “There were times when I was like, ‘I really don’t feel good, maybe I should drop out,’” Dimoff said. “And it’s like, I’m leading the race! You can’t drop out when you’re leading!”

Sunday’s Eugene Marathon is the first time the race has been held in-person since 2019. The marathon weekend included the 5k race on Saturday and the half and full marathons on Sunday. All three races ended in Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. The race weekend has not been held in Hayward Field since 2018, before the stadium was rebuilt.

Running fans were able to enter Hayward Field without tickets or cost during the race weekend to cheer on the runners as they finished their race. Fans and family members also lined the course across Eugene, cheering on the runners with cowbells and homemade signs.

The cheers grew louder as Dimoff entered the stadium and approached the finish line. “Once you get into the stadium it’s like free energy, the crowd will give you all the energy,” said Dimoff.

Although she ran the 10k in the Olympic Trials at Hayward Field last summer, this was Dimoff’s first time running the Eugene Marathon. Her favorite parts of the marathon course included the Eugene bike paths and running through Alton Baker Park.

For Dimoff, the Eugene marathon experience held an important lesson for runners and watchers alike. “You never know, someone might be running fast, but everyone’s hurting out there. We’re all just trying super hard,” she said.

"We’re out here competing ultimately against the other runners and today’s not our day with the time. We’re just gonna run our best, leave it all out on the course.”