{{Short description|American distance runner (born 1991)}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Louis Serafini | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|9|20|df=yes}} | birth_place = Niskayuna, New York, United States | image = | country = {{USA}} | collegeteam = Boston College | event = Marathon, Half Marathon | team = Tracksmith | pb = '''Marathon''': 2:14:59 <br />'''Half Marathon''': 1:03:49 <br />'''10 miles''': 47:35 }}

'''Louis Serafini''' (born 20 September 1991) is an American distance runner. He competed in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon. He has also run under four minutes in the mile.

==Early life== Serafini grew up in Niskayuna, New York, and attended Niskayuna High School. He played baseball in his youth but focused on running after breaking five minutes in the mile as a high school freshman. In a 2024 interview, Serafini said he often raced in three events at track meets - the 1,600 meters, 1,000 meters, and 600 meters.<ref name ="AD">{{Cite web |last=Hislop |first=Kristen |date=2024-03-23 |title=A Journey to Find the Joy |url=https://www.adksports.com/2024-03-athlete-profile |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Adirondack Sports }}</ref> He lowered his mile time to 4:13 by his senior year, and chose to attend Boston College.<ref name=AD/> Competing for BC, he achieved a 4:08 mile and 14:39 in the 5,000 meters, but never qualified for an NCAA Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Louis Serafini |url=https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/2757999/Boston_College/Louis_Serafini.html |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=TFRRS |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Career== Serafini moved up in distance after college and achieved two notable results in the fall of 2015. He won the Mohawk Hudson River Half Marathon in October, and then three weeks later recorded a 1:04:32 time at the Philadelphia Rock n Roll Half, which qualified him for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon.<ref name="WA">{{Cite web |title=Louis Serafini |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/louis-serafini-14401847 |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=World Athletics }}</ref>

At the Olympic Trials in Los Angeles, Serafini was unable to finish in sunny, hot conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Results |url=https://www.flipsnack.com/USATF/2016-olympic-trials-marathon-results/full-view.html |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Flipsnack }}</ref> He bounced back in the spring by placing 10th at the US Half Marathon Championship with a time of 1:04:17.<ref name=WA/>

Serafini returned to the track in 2017, clocking a 13:54 time in the 5,000 meters at Boston University. In 2018, he broke 4 minutes in the indoor mile with a 3:59.33 mark, also at Boston University.<ref>{{Cite web |last=James |first=Matt |date=2018-03-02 |title=How Lou Serafini Broke Four Minutes For The Mile With A Healthy Balance In His Professional And Social Life |url=https://citiusmag.com/articles/lou-serafini-sub-four-mile-training |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Citius Magazine }}</ref>

In 2019, Serafini was in top form in road races. He broke the course record at the Brooklyn Half Marathon, one of the largest half marathons in the United States, by clocking a time of 1:03:14.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brooklyn Half Marathon Recap |url=https://www.nyrr.org/media-center/press-release/20190518_brooklynhalfrecap |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=New York Road Runners }}</ref> In the fall, he placed 20th at the New York City Marathon in a time of 2:16:34.<ref name=WA/>

At the 2020 United States Olympic Trials (marathon) in Atlanta, Serafini placed 60th out of 235 men in a time of 2:20:27.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Results |url=https://track.rtrt.me/e/ATLANTA-TRIALS-2020#/leaderboard/top-men-marathon/FINISH |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=RTRT.me }}</ref>

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Serafini returned to track racing in the spring of 2021, notching a personal-best 10,000 meter time of 28:54 in California.

Serafini hit two Olympic Trials qualifying performances in the marathon in 2022, running 2:15:55 at Grandma's Marathon in May<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Grandma's Marathon Results |url=https://www.mtecresults.com/race/leaderboard/12984?version=761&division=M1934 |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=MTEC Results }}</ref> and 2:14:59 at the California International Marathon in December.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 CIM Marathon Results |url=https://www.athlinks.com/event/3241/results/Event/1036173/Results |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Athlinks }}</ref>

He won the 2023 Vermont City Marathon with a time of 2:17:55.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abrami |first=Alex |date=2023-05-28 |title=Course record shattered at the 2023 Vermont City Marathon & Relay |url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/sports/marathon/2023/05/28/vermont-city-marathon-relay-course-record-falls-fast-hot-day-burlington/70257844007/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Burlington Free Press }}</ref>

At the 2024 United States Olympic Trials (marathon) in Orlando, Serafini placed 35th of 200 men in sunny, hot conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Olympic Trials Marathon Results |url=https://www.flipsnack.com/USATF/2024-u-s-olympic-team-trials-marathon-final-results/full-view.html |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Flipsnack }}</ref>

In 2024, Serafini was inducted into the Greater Capital Region Track Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mindel |first=Mark |date=2024-03-28 |title=Olympic Trials Marathon - Two Athletes With Local Connections Finish in the Top 4 |url=https://www.hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2024/march/olympic-trials-marathon-two-athletes-local-connections-finish-top-4 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Hudson Mohawk Road Runners }}</ref>

Serafini finished in the top 50 at the 2026 Boston Marathon. His time qualified him for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boston Marathon Results|url= https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/results/ |access-date=2026-04-21|website=BAA}}</ref>

==Personal== As of 2024, Serafini lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with his wife and two dogs. He works as the Director of Community for running brand, Tracksmith.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Louis Serafini - 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon |url=https://www.orlando2024trials.com/athlete/278/34/louis-serafini |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Orlando 2024 Trials }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{World Athletics|14401847}} * [https://www.orlando2024trials.com/athlete/278/34/louis-serafini 2024 Olympic Trials Bio] * [https://www.atlanta2020trials.com/fan-zone/athletes/Louis-Serafini 2020 Olympic Trials Bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Serafini, Louis}} Category:Living people Category:American men long-distance runners Category:Track and field athletes from Massachusetts Category:American men marathon runners Category:1991 births