Ryan Hall, fresh off his fifth-place finish in Sunday's London Marathon and impressive time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 17 seconds, will be rooting for his fellow Team Running USA members. "I'm excited about how my teammates have prepared and to see them make a run at the Olympic team," said Hall of the Mammoth Lakes, Calif.-based group.

Kastor, 35, the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, and O'Neill, 27, running her second marathon, are coached by Terrence Mahon and need to finish in the top three to get a berth. Hall — now the second-fastest U.S. marathoner, behind Khalid Khannouchi — has earned a Beijing Olympic marathon berth.

"Although many women will show up ready to race, I know Kate is ready to make her second Olympic team," Kastor said. "She has helped bring out the best in my training, and I consider her a huge threat on the starting line. Our Mammoth Lakes training group is on fire right now."

Shay fund:

The Ryan Shay Memorial Fund will be launched today by his widow in Lexington, Mass. Shay died in November while running in the U.S. Olympic men's marathon trials in New York.

Alicia Craig Shay established the fund to help distance runners from disadvantaged groups and communities. Saucony, the shoe company that sponsors her and sponsored her husband, will donate $20,000 to the fund. Saucony will also introduce the Shay XC, a cross country shoe named for him, and the Ryan Shay Product Creation Center.

Alicia Craig Shay hopes to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team in the 10,000 meters in June in Eugene, Ore.