Molly Seidel


Molly Seidel is an American long distance runner. In her first-ever marathon, Seidel placed second at the 2020 U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials, securing a spot on the US team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She represented the United States at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country in 2012, 2013 & 2018.

Early life and education

Seidel grew up in Hartland, Wisconsin and attended University Lake School alongside her brother Fritz and sister Isabel. Molly won Gatorade National Female Cross Country Runner of the Year. She also was named Gatorade Wisconsin Female Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2011. Seidel won the 2011 national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, breaking the tape in 17:22. Seidel won Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association cross country, 1600m and 3200m titles at the state meet all four years totaling 12 titles. Seidel earned New Balance Indoor Nationals mile and two-mile All-American honors in 2011. Molly was invited to the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Challenge in Scotland where she placed third in the 4K and was the first USA high school finisher.

NCAA

Molly Seidel graduated from University of Notre Dame in 2016. Seidel is 2015 NCAA Division 1 national cross country champion. Seidel is 2016 NCAA Division 1 national indoor track and field 3000 meters and 5000 meters champion. Seidel won 10,000 meters title at 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Molly Seidel is a six time Atlantic Coast Conference champion. She has two Stanford Invitational 5000 outdoor track titles to her credit. She won the Honda Sports Award as the nation's top female cross country runner in 2016.
YearACC Cross CountryNCAA Cross CountryACC indoorNCAA indoorACC OutdoorNCAA Outdoor
2015-1619:36.2 1st19:28.5 1st3000 m 9:02.24 1st3000 m 8:57.86 1st
5000 m 15:19.64 1st5000 m 15:15.21 1st-
2014-1520:11.2 5th20:23.4 19th10,000 m 33:39.70 2nd10,000 m 33:18.37 1st
3000 m 9:10.63 1stDMR 11:15.96 8th-
5000 m 15:55.84 1st5000 m 15:48.31 6th5000 m 16:07.87 1st-
2013-1421:23.1 26th21:48.8 171st5000 m 16:31.27 8th5000 m 16:40.62 11th
2012-1321:45.3 22nd
@ Big East Conference		21:39.1 217th

Professional

Molly Seidel was invited to the 2012 Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country in Scotland where she placed third in the 4K and was the first USA high school finisher.
Molly Seidel placed fourteenth in 20:13 in 2016 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships.
Former NCAA champs Molly Seidel & Abbey D’Agostino returned to action at 2017 Mayor's Cup Cross Country Championships and charted paths to healthy futures after injury to finish 1st and 2nd respectively for 5 km. Seidel ran the first half slowly and proceeded to pick up the pace for the final 8 minutes to times of Molly 16:18 to D'Agostino 16:48.
Former Notre Dame champs Molly Huddle & Molly Seidel race to action on the road at 2017 USATF Road 5k Championships Abbott Dash to the Finishline 5k finish 1st and 2nd respectively for 5 km to times of 15:24 and 15:35.
Molly Seidel qualified to represent Team USA at the 2018 Great Edinburgh International Cross Country in Scotland where she led the team to 3rd place by finishing third in the 6 km in a time of 21:04.
Molly continued 2018 season with a 2nd place at the 2018 USA Cross Country Championships, led by Emily Infeld in 33:18.7, Molly Seidel in 33:22.1, Stephanie Bruce in 33:34.1, Infield's teammate Courtney Frerichs in 33:55.1, Emily Durgin in 33:56.9, and Susan Tanui in 34:39.0 and the six qualified for Team USA at 2018 NACAC Cross Country Championships in La Libertad, El Salvador on February 17, 2018. Throughout the entire race Seidel was among leaders, moved into 1st after 3 km until 8 km when Infield took the lead, led to the finish and Seidel maintained a pace of approximately 3:20/km.
In Atlanta, Georgia, at the U.S. Woman's Olympic Trials Marathon on February 29, 2020, Molly Seidel broke from the pack along with Aliphine Tuliamuk. Over the rolling hills of the course, the two pushed each other and took a large lead over third place Sally Kipyego. Seidel finished eight seconds behind Tuliamuk for a second place in 2:27:31. She earned a spot on the US Olympic Team and won $65,000.