Island runner Janelle Kraus started strong at the Olympic marathon trials in Boston Sunday. She was within seconds of a 6:00 mile pace at the halfway point. But then a hip injury that has plagued her since February manifested itself. Her gait and grimace told the story — she would not qualify for the Olympic team.

She “hung on” despite the pain, her former high school cross country coach Cliff Clark reported after watching the race, to finish 57th in a field of 162 with a time of 2:45:01.

Mr. Clark described the race conditions as “perfect. The weather was clear, the temperature in the mid-40s with a modest wind at the 8 a.m. start.”

Ms. Kraus, interviewed via email this week, was moved by the event. “The atmosphere in Boston on that day was unlike any race I have ever seen before; there were crowds at every turn cheering for everyone in that race. I am so grateful to all my family and friends that were there to support me.” In addition to Mr. Clark, the fans cheering her on in Boston included parents Chuck and Linda Kraus, Janelle’s siblings Amanda and Patrick, uncle and aunt Ken and Gina Kraus, grandparents Ceil and Charlie Kraus and many friends including Melanie LoBue, Fay and Warren Walker and Kevin Barry.

Mr. Clark described the course, which “started near the Prudential building in mid-town Boston and made multiple loops around mid-town, across the Charles River via the Harvard Bridge to Memorial Drive (between the Charles River and MIT campus) and back across the bridge to mid-town.

“Janelle was running magnificently through the first half (13.1 miles) and a little beyond. Note one of the pictures that shows the halfway clock at 1:19:01. ... She looked great through that point, from every measure. She really looked like she would run the second half faster than the first.”

“Shortly after that, however, it was obvious the hip was becoming a problem. Although she fought to keep the pace, her lower back tightened and her quest for a great performance was done.”

Her performance was disappointing and “not nearly what she had in mind but the marathon is a very unforgiving event,” Mr. Clark commented. “If things are not near perfect, especially at that level, the results will be less than what they might have been. That was the case for Janelle on Sunday.”

Ms. Kraus described her injury. “Basically my SI [sacroiliac] joint locked toward the end of February. I went for treatment immediately, took a few days off, but saw little improvement. However, after about 10 days I was able to get it to a point where I could do some running but no long runs or workouts. This was the case until almost the last week in March.

“Even though I had lost a lot of training throughout the month prior to the race, my coach and I knew I had a very good base that would still allow to me race well if only the hip problem was gone.

“Over the last two weeks I started having problems with my lower back (most likely related to the original issue). Since I could still feel it a week before the marathon, my coach prepared me for the possibility that it would become a problem in the race. If I got to the point where I was going to do serious damage, I should drop out.

“I got to the race trying to be positive, and not thinking about the injury. I started with the intention to run 2:37 marathon pace (a couple of minutes off my original goal before the injury). Very early I noticed my lower back getting tight. I continued to try to run the pace until about 9 to 10 miles. At that point I knew that continuing to try to run that pace, would bring the injury to a point where I had to stop, so I changed my plan to just try to finish. I am certainly disappointed but I am glad I finished the race.”

Many runners did not: 24 percent of the field dropped out, according to Janelle’s father, Chuck Kraus.

The pressure of competing for an Olympic berth was not an issue for Janelle, Mr. Clark said. “I have watched Janelle compete since before she was in high school. Pressure had absolutely nothing to do with the outcome. The injury was 100 percent the reason — no question.”

“Janelle is one of those rare athletes who competes at her best when there is the most pressure. She has always risen to the occasion to deliver. She is Shelter Island’s first and only high school state champion in any sport; she won nine individual Atlantic Coast Conference titles in cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track at Wake Forest University; she is a three-time NCAA Division 1 All-American and is the 2007 New England Runner Magazine ‘Runner of the Year.’

“All those honors are because she has always been able to step up in the biggest competitions.”

According to Mr. Clark, Ms. Kraus “had this race in perspective. She knew she was not a contender for the Olympic Team and had no delusions. Her only goal was to run a personal best time and finish in the top 15.” She ran the Boston Marathon last year in 2:41:24, running the entire distance into a 20-mph headwind. She had a 2:35 to 2:37 time within reach except for the injury, Mr. Clark said.

“Most marathoners would be thrilled with a 2:45 marathon — male or female — but, of course, this was not what Janelle had hoped for, nor what she is capable of when healthy.”

Ms. Kraus is taking a break from running to allow her injury to heal but she will “definitely plan to run the Shelter Island 10K” on June 21, she said.