WASHINGTON D.C. — Lake Stevens and Oklahoma State alumna Taylor Roe posted a 49:53 at the USA Track and Field 10 Mile Championship in Washington D.C. this past Sunday.
No woman in the world, much less the United States, had ever officially broken 50 minutes in the road event.
It was also Roe’s first time running the event.
“I don’t know about it sinking in. I don’t know if that’ll happen any time soon,” Roe said, having a few days to process the result.
The 10-mile run isn’t officially recognized by World Athletics, so Roe’s time is classified as a “world best” instead of a record. Half marathons and marathons are more traditional setups for road events.
Roe began her full-time professional running career with Puma Elite just months ago. As the new year has gotten underway, so too has the outdoor running season. Roe has competed in half marathons in Houston and Atlanta, with her most recent event before Sunday being a 10k in California this year.
Roe was a five-year athlete at Oklahoma State, where she won the 2022 3000-meter national title and was a nine-time state titleholder at Lake Stevens. As such, she has been accustomed to track settings and cross country terrain as opposed to the road racing she competed in on Sunday.
Despite her background, Roe has learned quickly — she had a sizable lead from the second mile to the finish line.
“You don’t (often) reap as many benefits of your hard work or the rewards of what you’ve put in so soon, so I’ve been very fortunate in that and to see the trajectory it’s kind of put me on,” Roe said.
The 24-year-old runner is hoping that trajectory includes a top-three finish at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in late July and early August — a result that would secure a spot on Team USA for upcoming international competition.
Sunday was a solid step toward that goal.
“It gives me confidence that I do have the potential make the team,” Roe said. “That’s the most encouraging thing, that I have a chance.”
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