Olympic trials dreams come true for Macomb native

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — It was a moment with her mother that she’ll never forget.

As Macomb native and Utica High School graduate Brittney Hall crossed the finish line on Oct. 14 at the 26.2-mile Bakline’s McKirdy Micro Marathon in Rockland Lake State Park in New York with a time of 2:36:28, narrowly beating the 2:37 required for the U.S. Olympic trials, everything seemed to come to fruition for the 25-year-old runner.

“It was really surreal when I found out I qualified,” Hall said. “My mom came right up to me after, and we were both hugging and crying. It was such a special moment, and it was really cool to just feel like I was a part of something bigger than myself with just working out there with all the other groups of girls and all of us trying to work together to qualify for the same time.”

Hall’s Olympic trials qualification punched her ticket to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon, a 26.2-mile stretch through the many historic landmarks of Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 3. The top three finishers among the women and men are expected to represent Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris this summer.

She was unable to complete the marathon due to severe calf and shin pain, stopping after the eight-mile mark, but she’s already determined to return for a shot at the 2028 Olympics, and her journey to get to where she’s at this year only speaks volumes to her passion and work ethic.

Hall graduated from Utica High School in 2016 and has dedicated her efforts to an Olympic trials qualification for the past year and a half after graduating from Western Michigan University in 2022.

Hall, who ran cross country and track collegiately at Western Michigan and graduated with a 4.0 GPA, said her six-year collegiate running career didn’t come to the finish she hoped it would, and that only fueled her even more to take up running after college.

“My last collegiate race was a 10k at the Mid-American Conference, and I ran it with a stress fracture,” Hall said. “I knew I didn’t place as well as I wanted to, and I knew I had more in me, so after I graduated, I wanted to try out for marathons and see what it was about because I love the longe- distance running.”

Hall linked up with McKirdy Trained’s Esther Atkins, a well-established coach and runner in the sport.

Atkins was a USA Marathon champion in 2014 and represented the United States in the World Marathon Championships in 2015 in Beijing, China, placing 24th in the marathon event.

Atkins said Hall had one major goal in mind for herself when she met with her over the VDOT O2 training platform for coaches and runners, and Atkins said she knew Hall would reach her goal with ease.

“When she came to me, she just wanted to break three hours,” Atkins said. “I was like, ‘Girl, you’re going to do that.’” She reminded me of myself coming out of college. Even though I was a D-III athlete (Case Western Reserve University), her times were similar to mine coming out of college, so it was nice to see that and know the trajectory she could be on.”

Running a 2:50:24 in her first marathon appearance at the 2022 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on Nov. 5, Hall exceeded her own expectations in only one race.

Building off the momentum, Hall took first on the female side in the 2023 Toronto Marathon on May 7 with a 2:42:56, finishing 11 minutes ahead of second place.

Hall said she utilized a unique mindset during the race to help her stay confident and focused.

“There was a research article out there that they did this study where if people smiled while running or doing a workout, it tricks the brain into thinking, ‘Oh, I’m happy and/or safe,’” Hall said. “It releases endorphins, so that’s what I did. I smiled, and of course every time I did that, there were the camera people with me having a grin on my face in all the pictures.”

While running takes up the bulk of her free time, Hall is currently working in the University of Michigan’s hand therapy fellowship program while studying in the program as well. Hall said she discovered a passion for hand therapy after suffering a horseback riding accident when she was 15.

“Just having that experience of me going through it myself really helps me relate to patients and understand what they’re going through and help them see a light at the end of the tunnel even though whatever they’re going through is a tough thing,” Hall said.

Hall, who currently lives in Ann Arbor, cycles through clinics in Northville, Canton, and Ann Arbor, which makes for some late-night runs.

“Typically, with my work schedule, I’m running right after work,” Hall said. “I have my headlamp to help me see in the dark. It’s a lot for sure, but I’ve been running for the last 11 years. It’s really ingrained in me, and I love running. It’s kind of my lifestyle. Some people think I’m crazy working a 10-hour day and running after, but I enjoy it. It’s kind of my stress release, too.”

Already qualifying for the Olympic trials in less time than she could’ve ever imagined, there’s no telling what Hall can accomplish down the road.

The Olympic qualification this year could just be a steppingstone for future success, especially with her work ethic.

“I think it’s the competitive edge in me and that runner’s craziness or addiction,” Hall said. “I just really like seeing how I can push myself and how fast I can run. I would say it’s kind of ingrained in me.”