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From Missing the Olympic Team to World Championship Greatness: The Unbelievable Comeback of Jess McClain
Jess McClain has become the new face of American women’s marathoning: a symbol of resilience, balance, and belief in one’s own path.
A former collegiate standout at Stanford, she stepped into the pro ranks with Brooks, only to face years of injury, transition, and even stepping away from full-time running to build a life outside the sport.
Jess never left the track mentally. In 2024, working full time and largely self-guided, she shocked the field by placing 4th in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, narrowly missing the team by seconds.
Not content to be defined by near misses, she went on to…
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