BYU's Jared Ward Quickly Rising in U.S. Marathon Ranks

Published by USA Today on November 29, 2015

Of the 169 men who have qualified for the U.S. Olympic marathon trials, only one wrote a master’s thesis on optimal pace strategy for running 26.2 miles.

Jared Ward’s life revolves around numbers — the number of miles he logs, his pace per mile and the complex statistical concepts he teaches to undergraduates at BYU.

“He’s always thinking about numbers, percentages and likelihoods,” says his wife, Erica Ward. “That’s how his mind works.”

In 75 days, the number that will matter most is three. Ward will need to finish in the top three of the Olympic marathon trials Feb. 13 in Los Angeles to represent the U.S. at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.