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Ryan Kienzle story olympic marathon trials

Cross Country

Former Pioneer Runner Ryan Kienzle Qualifies For Olympic Marathon Trials

Former Malone cross country runner Ryan Kienzle recently qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials with a half-marathon time of 1:04.38 in the Philadelphia Marathon.


Ryan Kienzle, of Canton (GlenOak H.S.) and a former cross country standout (2004-2007) at Malone University, recently qualified for the 2012 London Olympics marathon trials. Kienzle, a four-time NAIA All-American (two in cross country and two in track & field), qualified with a half-marathon time of 1:04.38 in the Philadelphia Marathon. The qualifying time for the half marathon is 1:05.00 and USA Track & Field has allowed people to qualify in the marathon or the half marathon.  Kienzle will be competing in the Olympic Trials on January 14th in Houston, Texas.

Jack Hazen, a 2012 London Olympics assistant coach who will work with the men's distance runners for Team USA, is the longtime and current head coach for Malone University cross country and coached Kienzle at Malone during his outstanding four-year career. 

Leo Kormanik, also a former four-year Pioneer cross country standout (2001-04) under Hazen and a two-time NAIA All-American (one in cross country and one in track & field), also qualified for the Olympic trials earlier in the full marathon. 

Hazen was excited for both of his former student-athletes on their recent success.  "I'm really excited for them both with those tremendous accomplishments,” said Hazen.  “Ryan was cutting it close, though, as the window for qualifying closes 30 days prior to the trials.  He ran a very strong race going through the five-mile mark (the traditional cross country distance) at 24:15 and proceeded through the ten-mile mark with a split of 49:20, which set him up for the qualifying time.  He ran in a tight pack of three Kenyans and two Americans, who all bettered the qualifying time of 1:05:00.”

Since graduating from Malone, Kienzle has been running for Second Sole racing team, which is a local running specialty shop in Ohio. Kienzle works out regularly with the Malone team and his day to day coaching is carried out by Malone assistant coach, Matt Reneker, the former St. Thomas High School coach.  Reneker and Hazen will both be in Houston to support Kienzle's efforts.  Kienzle is currently a teacher at Oakwood Middle School in Canton and competed for GlenOak as a high school student-athlete.
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