Photo Gallery: Looking Back At The 2008 U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials

Left-to-right: Deena Kastor, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Blake Russell. Photo: PhotoRun.net

The two finest female marathoners the U.S. has ever seen: Deena Kastor and Joan Benoit-Samuelson. Photo: PhotoRun.net

The Hansons-Brooks team sent five women to the Trials race in 2008. Photo: PhotoRun.net

The women's field ran a 10K loop through Boston and Cambridge, finishing on Boylston Street. Photo: PhotoRun.net

Deena Kastor and Blake Russell start stringing out the field. Photo: PhotoRun.net

Blake Russell made a heroic move early in the race. She was swallowed up by Kastor and Boulet, but held on for third place. Photo: PhotoRun.net

Deena Kastor and Magdalena Lewy Boulet give chase to Blake Russell, who made an early break in the race. Photo: PhotoRun.net

Desiree Davila, one of the favorites in the 2012 race, finished 13th in 2008, running 2:37:50. Photo: PhotoRun.net

Deena Kastor breaks the tape at the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials in 2:29:35. She was the only runner to break the 2:30 barrier. Photo: PhotoRun.net

Magdalena Lewy Boulet, formerly of Poland, qualified for the U.S. Olympic team with her 2:30:19 runner-up finish. Photo: PhotoRun.net