Edgewood Runner Rebecca Schmitt Qualifies for 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials

Colorado native drops 30 minutes off her marathon time to earn spot in Olympic Trials

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:49pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a runner's motion broken down into overlapping planes of bright red, blue, and yellow colors.Schmitt's qualification for the 2028 Olympic Trials showcases the resilience and determination of athletes who can reignite their passion for running later in life.Albuquerque Today

Rebecca Schmitt, a 33-year-old engineer from Edgewood, New Mexico, has qualified for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials after a startling improvement in her marathon times over the past few years. Schmitt, who had a successful high school running career, rediscovered her passion for competitive running in her late 20s and has since dropped her marathon time from 2:59 to 2:28, well under the Olympic qualifying standard.

Why it matters

Schmitt's journey back to elite-level running after a long hiatus highlights the resilience and determination of athletes who are able to reignite their passion later in life. Her qualification for the Olympic Trials also showcases the running-friendly environment of the Albuquerque area, where Schmitt has been able to train and thrive.

The details

After earning degrees from Colorado State University and the University of New Mexico, Schmitt worked as an engineer at Sandia National Labs. She began running casually in her late 20s before ramping up her training, increasing her weekly mileage from 40 to 70 miles. This allowed her to shave 30 minutes off her marathon time, culminating in a 2:28:39 clocking at the 2025 California International Marathon that booked her spot in the 2028 Olympic Trials.

  • Schmitt won a Colorado state title in the 3200 meters as a high school senior.
  • She was the state cross-country runner-up the previous fall.
  • Schmitt ran the 2022 Duke City Half-Marathon in 1:38.00.
  • She ran the 2024 Boston Marathon in 2:59.02.
  • Schmitt ran the 2024 California International Marathon in 2:35.08.
  • She ran the June 2025 Grandma's Marathon in 2:33.58.
  • Schmitt ran the 2025 California International Marathon in 2:28.39, qualifying for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

The players

Rebecca Schmitt

A 33-year-old engineer from Edgewood, New Mexico, who has qualified for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials after a remarkable improvement in her marathon times over the past few years.

Lauren Hagans

Schmitt's Flagstaff, Arizona-based coach, who is a six-time All-American at Baylor and an accomplished runner at distances from 800 meters to the marathon.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I had the realization (that) running was something that has always been a part of me. I still had some dreams in the back of my mind as far as running competitively is concerned. And I had this realization that, 'I'm turning 30. If I don't train for something now, I might never be able to do it. I might never be able to reach those goals.'”

— Rebecca Schmitt

What’s next

The 2028 U.S. women's Olympic Marathon Trials are scheduled for March 2028. St. Louis and Phoenix have submitted bids to host the event.

The takeaway

Schmitt's journey back to elite-level running after a long hiatus demonstrates the power of perseverance and the ability to reignite one's passion later in life. Her qualification for the Olympic Trials also highlights the running-friendly environment of the Albuquerque area, which has played a vital role in her training and success.