GAINESVILLE – Keystone Heights High graduate and standout track and cross country runner Enoch Nadler, now 33 years old, set forth a six month plan to earn the right to run in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials race for a possible shot at the 2020 Summer Olympics Marathon in Tokyo.

Nadler, a standout as a Keystone Heights High athlete, then a standout as a University of Florida runner and now, a standout as the elite team coach of the Florida Track Club in Gainesville, ran the 26.2 mile California International Marathon on Dec. 3 in two hours, 18 minutes and 17 seconds to get under the U.S. Olympics Trials Marathon “B” Standard of 2:19.00, thus earning a ticket to the U.S. Olympics Marathon Trials race, set for either late 2019 or January 2020.

In an emotional video response to his achieving the goal, Nadler noted that the challenge was far more difficult than he originally thought.

“I have a much deeper respect for marathoners and the marathon race itself after this effort,” said Nadler, who qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon with a half marathon qualifying time of 1:03.55 at 31 years of age, but did not compete in the Trials race while establishing his career. “The hills on the course made it very difficult.”

Nadler noted that his preparation both physically and mentally helped him to maintain his pace for the qualifying standard.

“At about eight or nine miles, my legs were feeling all the hills and I was getting a little worried that things may go downhill from there,” said Nadler. “I just thought about all the people who have supported me to be in that moment and kept going. My hamstrings were really starting to give out.”

Nadler persisted and finished in 33rd place overall of 7098 runners; seventh in his age group of 496 30-35 males and 33rd male of 3770 male runners.

Nadler had split times of 32:31 for the 10K (6.2 miles) mark, 1:08:32 for the half marathon split and 1:44:38 at 20 miles.

“I snuck in about 45 seconds under my goal,” said Nadler. “It was definitely touch and go at some points.”

The winning time was 2:11:56 from Tim Ritchie, 30, of New Haven, CT with the runnerup, Tyler McCandless, 31, of Boulder, CO, at 2:12:28.

Note: Time is the only requirement for making it into the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials; a 2:19 for a marathon or 1:05 for a half marathon (male) or 2:45 or 1:15 (female) or faster on a sanctioned course.