Molly Seidel

About

Molly Seidel (born July 12, 1994) is an American distance runner from Hartland, Wisconsin, whose trajectory from NCAA champion to Olympic medalist to trail ultrarunner is one of the most compelling stories in modern endurance sport. A four-time NCAA champion and six-time All-American at the University of Notre Dame, Seidel placed second at the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials on her first career marathon attempt. She then won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic marathon, becoming the first American woman to medal in the event since Deena Kastor's bronze in 2004. After injuries prompted a gradual shift toward trail running — initially as the only pain-free option available — what began as necessity evolved into genuine love. In early 2026 she won the Bandera 50K outright in a new women's course record, then made her 100km trail debut at Black Canyon 100K in February, finishing fourth in 8:25:13 to earn a Golden Ticket to the 2026 Western States 100. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics marathon remains on her long-term radar, making Western States 2026 one of the sport's great crossover stories.

Notable Wins

• — Tokyo 2020 Olympic marathon bronze medal
• — US Olympic Marathon Trials 2020 2nd
• — Bandera 50K 2026 (women's CR)

Upcoming Races

Recent Coverage