It’s surprising that Elva Dryer is not better known to running fans considering that this year she could become a three-time Olympian — in three different events. She represented Team USA in the 5000 meters at the 2000 Olympics, and finished 19th — and first among Americans — in the 10,000 meters in the 2004 Games in Athens. Now, her goal is to run the marathon in Beijing. To accomplish that, she’ll have to finish in the top three at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials — Women’s Marathon in Boston on April 20.

Dryer, 36, has been exceeding expectations since her days at Division II Western State College in Colorado, where she won seven NCAA titles, including four in the outdoor 3000 meters. Western State is also where the former Elva Martinez met her husband and coach, Russ Dryer, a former All-American in cross country. Nike recognized Elva Dryer’s considerable talent coming out of college and has represented her ever since.

The Olympic Trials will be the third marathon for the 5-foot-5, 110-pound Dryer. She ran a PR of 2:31:48 while placing 12th at the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in 2006, and at the ING New York City Marathon 2007 she finished first among U.S. women and sixth overall in 2:35:15. Last year, she also won the USA Half-Marathon title in 1:11:42.