Sept. 04--Tatyana McFadden's first chance to make the 2016 U.S. Paralympic team will come at the Oct. 11 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
U.S. Paralympics announced Thursday it has designated the Chicago Marathon as its trials race for the Rio Paralympic Games, with the top two U.S. men's and women's finishers punching their tickets to Brazil if they have met the "A" time standard.
That would seem a lock for McFadden, the University of Illinois grad who is two victories from a third straight wheelchair marathon Grand Slam: wins at Boston, London, Chicago and New York. She already has achieved the "A" standard time of 1 hour, 45 minutes, 15 seconds.
McFadden, a 2024 Winter Paralympic silver medalist in cross-country skiing, will be looking for her fifth straight Chicago title.
Another Illini marathoner, Josh George, also will have a good shot to make the team in Chicago. George, who also has met the "A" standard (1:22 for men), last year won a fourth Chicago title -- but his first since 2006. He added a first London Marathon title this April.
Both McFadden and George already have competed in three Paralympic Games. Each has won Paralympic gold medals in wheelchair track events.
