Raising the ante for Olympic trials

Houston seeks to land both races in January 2012

By DALE ROBERTSON Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle

Jan. 9, 2010, 10:26PM

Houston has joined some fancy company as one of three finalists bidding to host the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

But, in typical Houston fashion, organizers of the Chevron Houston Marathon one-upped their lofty rivals — the New York and Boston marathons.

Houston wants the men's and women's races, managing director Steven Karpas said.

New York seeks only the men, and Boston is after the women. They were the respective sites of the 2008 men's and women's trials.

Karpas made a presentation to USA Track and the United States Olympic Committee along with representatives from New York and Boston. He expects a decision in February.

“It will be a challenge for our staff,” Karpas said, “but we're very comfortable we can pull it off. Everybody's on board.

“New York and Boston are at the top of the running world, so we're excited to be in the mix.”

The race would be on a Saturday in January 2012, the day before the regular Houston Marathon events, on a multiple-lap criterium course along Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive to avoid too much