Runner competes at U.S. championships while nearly eight months pregnant

Just to be clear, Alysia Montano did not qualify for Friday night’s semifinals in the 800 meters at the USA track and field championships.

The 28-year-old runner finished dead last in the preliminary heats, which might be considered a disappointment for someone with national championships on her resume. But she had a pretty good excuse.

Montano is nearly eight months pregnant.

“I’ve been running through my entire pregnancy, and I felt really, really good during the whole process,” she told reporters after her Thursday race.

To say that Montano is showing at this point would be an understatement. Still, her doctor gave the OK to compete in Sacramento, so long as she kept an easy pace. Her finishing time of 2:32.13 was some 35 seconds off her personal best.

“I just knew I didn’t want to get lapped, be the first person to ever get lapped in an 800 meters,” she said. “More than anything, I wanted to be here.”