Ward actually did his masters thesis on "optimal pace strategy in a marathon".

You can view it here.

Each of the ten who qualify for the Marathon Trials will get a $1,500 stipend to help with their training and travel to LA.

After running 4:23 in 2000, she has brought her PR down to 2:40 (2:41 on a eligible course) to qualify. “I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of crossing that finish line and being like, ‘Oh, yes, finally I did it.' It took me five attempts to do it, but it made it that much sweeter.”

"I am no longer in a situation where I have to race and I’m not going to put myself in a situation again where I am on a big stage and not ready to go. The only race on my calendar is the Olympic Trials Feb 13, 2016. Anything else is secondary to that goal."