SAN DIEGO, CA -- On Sunday, June 3, women's cross country captain Keryn Thorvaldsen completed the San Diego Rock n' Roll Marathon, her first marathon ever. 

With a time of 3 hours and 23 minutes, the All-NECC runner qualified for the 2013 Boston Marathon. 

"Many runners train their whole lives to qualify to run in the prestigous Boston Marathon," said head cross country and track coach Dan Flynn.  "Keryn broke the qualifying standard by 12 minutes on her first attempt.  This is a truly fantastic accomplishment for a talented runner."

It is unusual for a current athlete to register for a marathon while still running collegiately.  Typically, runners attempt the marathon after graduating.  With Thorvaldsen, however, Flynn felt it was a risk worth taking, especially considering her preparation and dedication to training.

"When Keryn approached me about running a marathon, I wasn't against the idea given that she is almost 23 and has shown tremendous strength in her running," he said.  "We created a training plan with strict guidelines, and she followed it perfectly."

"I think this achievement will only help Keryn understand how strong she is as a runner.  Mentally, she will be tougher than ever.  Running a three-mile race is nothing after having run 26.2 miles.  I look for her to have a big year next year."

Thorvaldsen's cross country team opens 2012 on September 1 at the The Fens Classic hosted by Emmanuel College.