Marathon Today in Long Beach

The Long Beach Marathon, celebrating its 10th annual running, is expected to draw about 4,500 runners to today’s race.

Being held in conjunction with the race is the 1991 Women’s National Marathon Championship, which has attracted some of the most promising American women marathoners to the race.

Among the favorites in the women’s race are Maria Trujillo of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Janis Klecker of Minnetonka, Minn. Trujillo, who competed at Arizona State while a Mexican citizen, has the field’s best time, 2 hours 28 minutes. Trujillo has since become a U.S. citizen and is considered a contender to make next year’s Olympic team in the marathon.

Although the women’s field has depth and will offer its entrants a chance to run fast times on Long Beach’s flat course, it has not attracted the best among American women. Women competing here will be attempting to qualify for the Olympic marathon trial, to be held next next January at Houston.

Long Beach had been awarded the trial but was forced to give it up when sponsorship failed to materialize. Houston was the only city to bid after the bid process was reopened.

The race will starts and finish at the Long Beach Convention Center on Ocean Boulevard. Race walkers will start at 7 a.m., wheelchairs at 7:25 and runners at 7:30.