Amy Cragg finished fourth at the 2012 Olympic marathon trials, just missing the three-woman team.
She left no doubt Saturday, winning the Rio Olympic marathon trials by 33 seconds over Desi Linden.
Shalane Flanagan was third to round out the Olympic team, collapsing after she crossed the finish line and carried into a wheelchair.
Cragg, who later made the 2012 Olympic team in the 10,000m and finished 11th, led a team of returning Olympians to finish in the top three after 26.2 miles in warm Los Angeles on Saturday.
Lindenrepeated her 2012 trials finish of second place, surging in the final few miles past Flanagan.