Halfway through yesterday's Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, in the United Arab Emirates, Tonya Nero was on course to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games.
But a right hamstring injury slowed her considerably in the second half of the 26.2-mile race, and the 27-year-old runner was unable to achieve the Olympic qualifying standard of two hours, 45 minutes.
Nero completed the course in 2:59:47 to finish 26th in the women's race. In a Facebook post afterwards, she spoke about the challenging run.
“It was not the qualifying time but it was my best for the day. With 13 kilometres to go I depended on my left leg to carry my body throughout the rest of the race.