Heather Hanscom always set the bar high for herself because she felt she had untapped potential in running. In October, the 25-year-old came one step closer toward achieving her goals by winning the Marine Corps Marathon and running 2:37:59, safely below the Olympic Trials "A" qualifying standard of 2:40:00. A smooth buildup in the summer had forecasted a good run — she ran a 1:14:11 half marathon at the Philadelphia Distance Run followed by a 2:04:35 20-miler at the Stonewall Jackson Ambulance Run — but she was shocked with the result.

Hanscom’s road to success has been filled with setbacks and hurdles. As a 14-year-old freshman in high school, she had a life-threatening brain tumor removed. In college she struggled with on-again off-again injuries, never staying healthy enough to break through. Since graduating from James Madison University, she joined the Pacers Racing Team, changed coaches, and also started working for the Red Cross as a researcher. She is sponsored by the Pacers running store in Alexandria, Virginia, and now coached by American University coach and two-time Olympian Matt Centrowitz.