Janet Cherobon-Bawcom

Janet Cherobon-Bawcom unexpectedly qualified for the 2012 USA Olympic Team despite only finishing seventh at the US Olympic Trials. She made the team because she was one of only three runners in the event who had the A qualifying time. Cherobon-Bawcom would finish 12th at London.

Born in Kenya, Cherobon-Bawcom came to the US to run for Harding University in Arkansas. She was the NCAA D-2 Champion in 2005 in the 5,000 and 10,000. She graduated from Harding with a degree in health care management, but later earned a nursing degree. As Janet Cherobon in college, she married Jay Bawcom, who had done missionary work in Kenya, and they settled in Georgia.

Turning to the roads, Cherobon-Bawcom won eight USA titles – in 2011 at 10 km, 10 miles, and 20 km; in 2012 at 15 km, 10 miles, and 25 km; and in 2013 at 15 km and 10 miles. She was USA Road Runner of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and finished 11th at the 2016 World Half-Marathon Championships.

Personal Best: 10K – 31:12.68 (2012) (32:03 road [2014]), 10 miles – 52:12 (2014); Half-Marathon – 69:55 (2012).