8 Months Pregnant, Cal Star Runner Competes In 800 Meters At U.S. Championships
SACRAMENTO (CBS SF) -- A five-time national champion and former Olympian made headlines after running in the U.S. Track and Field Championships while eight months pregnant.
Alysia Montano, 28, ran the 800 meters Thursday in Sacramento, finishing in 2 minutes, 32.13 seconds -- nearly 35 seconds slower than her personal best of 1:57.34 in 2010.
"Look at her belly hanging out," Montano's father, Eric Johnson, said. "I'm super proud."
Although the UC Berkeley star known as "The Flying Flower," finished last in her heat, the crowd cheered for her as she crossed the finish line.
"I know there is a lot of stigma and really, the word is ignorance, behind pregnant women and exercising. And the truth is, it's good for the mom and the baby," Montano told CBS2's Rachel Kim via Skype after the race.
Montano said her and her husband planned their pregnancy during an off-year so she can compete in the World Championships and the 2016 Olympics in Rio.