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<\/a> WASHINGTON \u2013 As the Florida crowd cheers the runners, Staff Sgt. Leonard Korir knows he\u2019s 37 seconds behind third place at the 24-mile mark. A mile later, he works his way up, only 18 seconds away from that last qualifying spot. In the last mile, Korir surged past Zach Panning and Elkanah Kibet to earn a bronze medal in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando April 3 with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes and 57 seconds, taking him one step closer to the Olympics in Paris this summer.<\/p>\n \u201cI have the mentality of, \u2018Don\u2019t give up until the finish line,\u2019\u201d Korir said. \u201cI knew the marathon is usually a long and grueling event. I saw the two guys ahead of me, and I decided to push and give everything I had. I\u2019m glad it worked out for me and thankful for finishing third.\u201d<\/p>\n Korir\u2019s coach, Staff Sgt. Sam Kosgei, knew he could earn the win.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew he was ready to handle anything thrown at him,\u201d Kosgei said. \u201cIn the marathon, you must trust the process. His buildup to the Olympic trials was great. He was ready for any challenges, and I had no doubt he was the type of Soldier who will never accept defeat or ever quit.\u201d<\/p>\n Paris, Rio<\/strong><\/p>\n The top two finishers in Orlando earned automatic berths to the U.S. Olympic Marathon team. Korir will find out if he made the team in May.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m confident I\u2019ll get to run the Olympics in Paris,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m currently ranked 68th in the world, and I don\u2019t expect to be displaced in this position. The number of athletes required to run in the Olympics is 80. I\u2019m hoping to make the team and medal. I\u2019ll be so happy for this.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he\u2019s happy with his performance in Orlando since it\u2019s an improvement from his 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, where he placed fourth. He earned a bronze in the 10,000-meter, eighth in the 5,000-meter at the Olympic trials in 2016, earning him a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics. He placed 14th in the 10,000-meter at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He also qualified for the World Championships in London and Doha, both in the 10,000-meter in 2017.<\/p>\n After the Olympics, Korir hopes to win the New York or Boston Marathon.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I could win a Boston marathon, that would be a huge accomplishment for me,\u201d he said. His current marathon personal record, or PR, is 2 hours 7 minutes 56 seconds. Sisay Lemma won Boston with 2 hours 6 minutes 17 seconds April 15.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s possible,\u201d Korir said with a smile.<\/p>\n Giving Back<\/strong><\/p>\n Korir grew up in Iten, Kenya, a place known for several Olympic, world champion and world record holders. While attending Tambach Teachers College, he met coach Colm O\u2019Connell, who noticed his running ability and encouraged him to apply for a scholarship to Iona College in New York.<\/p>\n While attending Iona College in 2011, he earned an NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship in the 10,000-meter and an NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championship in the 5,000-meter. Because of his scholarship and living in the U.S., he wanted to give back and joined the Army.<\/p>\n \u201cI work so hard, train every day to serve this country,\u201d Korir said. \u201cI wanted to give back. I want to make the Olympic team and represent the U.S. and the Army. When my parents back in Kenya see me succeed, they are so happy for me. It keeps me going and looking forward to more competition in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n His sister ran for her college and joined the Army as a nurse. Korir, a motor transport operator, said he plans to retire from the Army and eventually be a coach to mentor other runners in the World Class Athlete Program.<\/p>\n
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\n Staff Sgt. Leonard Korir, a Soldier-Athlete with the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, exults before crossing the finish line during the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials on Feb. 3 in Orlando, Florida. Korir won the bronze medal in a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 57 seconds.
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\n Army Staff Sgt. Leonard Korir of the Army World Class Athlete Program and 2016 Olympian stands for a photo on a running track at Fort Carson, Colo. March 11, 2024. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom)
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