Arizona Special Olympics athlete qualifies for Boston Marathon
Oct 2, 2019, 4:15 AM
(Special Olympics Photo)
(Special Olympics Photo)
PHOENIX — An Arizona Special Olympics athlete has qualified for the nation’s most prestigious marathon.
Carla Simon secured her spot by finishing with a time of 5 hours and 21 minutes in her most recent qualifying race, eclipsing the required qualification time of 6 hours.
The 32-year-old will run in the Boston Marathon on April 20 of next year.
“My biggest goal has always been to run in the Boston Marathon and I’m beyond excited that I qualified for one of the coolest marathons in the country,” Simon said in a press release. “It’s such a fun and well known marathon and I can’t wait to lace up my running shoes on the streets of Boston next April.”
Simon said she began running in 2013 following the death of her mother, according to the release.
She has since run in 224 races, including 13 marathons and six ultra marathons.
Simon, a Special Olympics athlete for 12 years, has a decorated athletic history.
She competed in the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in track and field and earned a gold medal and two silver medals.
She also took part in the 2015 Special Olympics World Games and won a gold medal.
“Special Olympics and running has helped me come out of my sheltered life and build confidence and really has helped me go out and try new things and do things I have never done before,” Simon said.
