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She hasn't been running long, but this St. Louis woman will chase her Olympic dream this month

Julia Kohnen is a 27-year-old who doesn’t have a long and storied career as a runner, but she will compete for a spot on Team USA as a marathoner later this month

ST. LOUIS — The Olympic Trials in the Marathon competition are later this month in Atlanta. St. Louis will be well represented, including Julia Kohnen.

She's a 27-year-old graduate of Incarnate Word Academy. Although she is in the running to make the Olympic team, Julia Kohnen doesn’t have a long and storied career as a runner.

Julia was a soccer player and a good one, staring at Incarnate Word before playing collegiately at Southern Indiana University. 

Running, though, is what she does best. But she may not have been on the same track if not for a coach on the Southern Indiana campus. She never would have taken up competitive running if a running coach at Southern Indiana University didn’t see her running one day. 

Now, she's winning races and closing in on an Olympic dream. Kohnen already has eight combined victories in half marathons and full marathons. She also has a top-25 time in the country.

Only three will make the team. The race is Feb. 29.

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