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WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – As night falls Saturday in Orlando, Florida, 175 elite female athletes will compete for a coveted spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
Among them is Ann Marie Pierce of Wilmington. At first glance, the 31-year-old, with his unassuming, smile-inducing high-pitched voice, might not seem like one of America’s best athletes. But if you look closely at her high cheekbones and the veins criss-crossing the backs of her hands, you’ll see that she’s traveled thousands of miles for this day.
To say Pierce is a busy mom would be a total understatement. Unlike many of the women she competes against, Pierce does not have a full-time massage therapist, sports agent, or large sponsorship deal. In fact, you’re more likely to stand in line at Cava and see her grab a bowl right in front of you than you are to see her promote her new shoes on TV. Most of the Wilmington moms work full-time between being moms to Remy, 2, and Flynn, 4, coaching youth athletes, running Airbnb, and running her own company, Pierce Productions. It would be easy to relate to Pearce as he balances it with photography.
Some athletes in the With Limits Trail Blazers youth running team, a program Pierce himself founded, credit their coach for his influence.
“She made me fall in love with the sport of running,” said Chloe Davis, echoing the sentiments of teammate Emma Rogers, who praised Pearce’s constant positivity and uplift. She “never saw her sad or upset.”
Pearce acknowledged the scale of the Olympic Trials, saying, “I’ve never participated in an event of this magnitude.”
But she’s done a lot of racing. During her college years, Pierce competed at Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University. It was in West Michigan that she met her husband, Dylan.
“When she commits to something, it gets done,” Dylan testified of her fiery demeanor, especially when attending her first trial.
In order to participate in the Olympic Trials, Pierce encountered a dilemma. During the 2020 Olympics, her coach Tom Clifford, founder of the Wilmington-based Without Limits training program, said three of her teammates will compete in the trials in Atlanta. helped. Clifford says there is no doubt that Anne-Marie was ready at the time, except that she was pregnant with her first son. The 2020 standard was 2:45:00, and more than 350 women from the United States competed in this time.
Then, in 2022, USA Track and Field announced that the standard would be lowered to 2:37:00. That means if Pierce were to compete in the Olympic Trials, he would have to run eight minutes faster than he has run previously.
“My father passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2021. He was a huge part of my running journey,” she said. “I ran a marathon in his honor (2 hours, 45 minutes, 10 seconds) a week after he passed away, when I was seven weeks pregnant with my second son. “You must not do that.” Although neither of my parents were runners, they attended many of my events and I am grateful for the support they shared with me. ”
Pearce and coach Tom Clifford were eyeing the Houston Marathon in January 2023 as a place to hit the mark. Known for its flat course and beautiful January weather, this location has the best chance of helping Pearce shave eight minutes off his personal best and qualify for the Olympic Trials. It was the highest place.
“I was just one step away,” Pierce recalled of missing the mark by 43 seconds. “I knew I had to try again.”
Six weeks later at the Wilmington Marathon, Ann Marie Pearce led the line with laser focus, passing male leader and training partner Hugh Crews, knowing who she was and what she was all about. He set out to make his mark in front of the Wilmington crowd. Was trying to – 2:36:22. She accomplished it in 48 seconds.
“The atmosphere made it a success,” she recalled. “I didn’t know any of those people, so a lot of them were on the sidelines, but they were all cheering me on, so just walking home brought me to tears. And that’s just like the essence of running. Whether you are the first one or the last one, you support each other. Everyone is in this thing and has a story to share so you can inspire each other. can.”
Clifford acknowledged Pearce’s spirit, saying, “Everything we give her, we’re going to try to exceed that.”
While Clifford praised his ambition, he stressed the importance of maintaining balance to avoid overexertion. “That’s a wonderful human quality. But then I say let’s put the brakes on some things for a while.”
Competing in the Trials may be prize enough, but it’s no surprise that Pearce has higher goals than simply finishing the race.
“My number one goal is to be in the top 50 in the United States,” Pierce said. “Then I did the PR and finally I’m proud to have completed this effort that I get to represent and the efforts of those who support me to make this possible.
“I hope that tells the kids I coach that they don’t have to give up on their dreams. Sometimes things don’t go your way, but if you really love something, stick with it.” Let’s go.”
Copyright 2024 WECT. All rights reserved.
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