Oct. 13, 2009

Recent graduates Drew and Kyle Shackleton qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon over the weekend after running 2:17.56 and 2:17.59, respectively, at the Chicago Marathon.

Drew finished 13th overall and was the fourth-fastest American finisher, while twin brother Kyle was 14th and the fifth American runner. The race featured the Beijing Olympic Gold Medalist, Sammy Wanjiru.

Both brothers finished below the 2012 Olympic Trial time standard of 2:19.00. Kyle bettered his previous marathon best of 2:20.38, set in 2008 at the New York Marathon.

Not only were the duo racing for the Olympic Trial time standard, but they were racing to raise money for Parkinson's research, a disease that their grandfather suffers from. They raised $17,000 in contributions prior to the race and also donated their bonuses for achieving the U.S. time standard ($2,500 each). In all, the brothers donated $22,000 to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, an organization that is working to find a cure to Parkinson's.