• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Track & Field

Emma Coburn leads strongest steeplechase field in USA championships history, by Chris Lotsbom, RRW, used with permission

Larry Ederby Larry Eder
June 25, 2015
0
0 0
0
SHARES
10
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Emma Coburn is in fine shape, in a very hot Eugene, Oregon this weekend. Her goal is to make the US team bound for Beijing. 


Coburn_Emma1-Oxy15.JPG

Emma Coburn, photo by PhotoRun.net

I had the luck of watching Emma compete all last summer. I like her style and her “spunk”. In the final race of the year, her clobbering of Hiwot Ayalew was a fitting end to a season where she really emerged as a world beater. 

This piece is by RRW’s Chris Lotsbom gives you an idea of how hot this race should be! 


RelatedPosts

Deep Thoughts on the Opening of the 2025 Diamond League in Xiamen, China

South Africa Delivered, Jamaica Faltered, and Spain Stunned Us All

This Day in Track & Field, May 12, Joan Benoit Samuelson takes Olympic Trials Marathon weeks after arthroscopic surgery (1984), compiled and written by Walt Murphy

COBURN LEADS STRONGEST STEEPLECHASE FIELD IN USA CHAMPIONSHIPS HISTORY
By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom
(c) 2015 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

EUGENE, OR, USA (24-Jun) — There’s an old adage that says a rising tide lifts all boats. That metaphor could be used to describe the women’s 3000m steeplechase, which is at the strongest level it’s ever been here in the United States. At the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships here in Eugene, nine women with personal bests under 9:36 are set to toe the line, led by three-time national champion Emma Coburn.

Having run an American best of 9:11.42* last year, Coburn is the overwhelming favorite entering the meet, a seasoned veteran to championship racing. Of the last four national championships, Coburn’s won three titles, the only blemish being when she did not compete in 2013 due to injury.

Not having lost to an American in the event since the preliminary rounds of the 2011 national championships, Coburn is confident heading into this weekend despite not having raced over barriers yet this year. However, she knows that this may be the toughest national field she’s ever faced.

“Even though I’ve won USA’s and it’s been four or five years since I lost to an American, I don’t count out any of the other Americans,” Coburn told the media, speaking at a pre-meet press conference in downtown Eugene.

Competitive on the international level, Coburn is expected to contend for a medal at this year’s IAAF World Championships in Beijing. Yet her prowess in the event is just a sign of the times in America, a glimpse of the resurgence in the discipline on U.S. soil.

In 2008, Jenny Simpson (at the time Jenny Barringer) and Anna Willard led a strong American showing at the first Olympic 3000m steeplechase contested for women, finishing ninth and 10th in the final. Since then, the red, white, and blue have improved steadily. When Simpson transitioned from the steeplechase to the 1500 meters in 2009, she passed the torch on to Coburn, a fellow University of Colorado alum who also trains under coaches Mark Wetmore and Heather Burroughs. Coburn has led the way for the next generation of American steeplers ever since.

Here today, Coburn touched upon how far the discipline has come in the past four years, with athletes like Stephanie Garcia, Ashley Higginson, and Nicole Bush running in the 9:25-range consistently. In the collegiate ranks, a trifecta of talent was on full display right here at Hayward Field two weeks ago at the NCAA Championships, when Florida State’s Colleen Quigley, UMKC’s Courtney Frerichs, and Michigan State’s Leah O’Connor pushed to podium finishes with personal best marks of 9:29.32, 9:31.36, and 9:33.38, respectively.

Throw in Olympians Bridget Franek and Shalaya Kipp and you have a steeplechase field that trumps any in U.S. history. On Thursday, the preliminary rounds of the steeplechase will be contested, with the final coming on Saturday afternoon.

“Domestically, the women’s steeplechase is the strongest it’s ever been. We have several women who have ‘A’ standards in other events, and I think that proves that they’re not just good steeplechasers but very good runners all around,” Coburn said, specifically praising the rising collegians. “The competition domestically is just going to get better and better.”

Coburn can be seen as a catalyst of sorts in the event. From her first national title in 2011 (won in 9:44.11), to last year’s crown (claimed in a very fast 9:19.72 despite searing conditions in Sacramento), Coburn’s winning times are indicative of what it now takes to be national champion.

“It’s motivating. I can’t ever settle,” she said. “From 2011 to 2015, the time it took to win dropped massively and I think that’s exciting.”  She added: “Like I said, I can’t settle and they are right there, so it’s fun to have a competitive group of women that can be competitive on the world scale.”

Reflecting on how she’s progressed in the steeplechase, Coburn gives credit to coaches Wetmore and Burroughs. From the day she stepped onto the University of Colorado campus in Boulder, the pair worked to make Coburn the best all around athlete possible. In cross country they focused on strength work, building a strong base. During the indoor season they fine tuned her speed, always working on the mile distance. And when the outdoor season rolled around, only then would Coburn get to begin steeplechase-specific training.

The methodical approach –to build strength and speed before introducing barriers and steeplechase technique– is why Coburn is able to shine in a variety of disciplines. For example, she ran 4:05.10 for 1500m at this year’s Prefontaine Classic 1500m.

“They do a really great job of developing the steeplechasers into all around athletes,” she said, specifically bringing up Simpson’s 2009 season, when she ran 3:59.90 for 1500m and an American record of 9:12.50 for the steeplechase.  “I need to be a 8:40 or 8:45 flat-3000m runner to be successful in the steeplechase, and I think that’s where more of their focus lies. It’s just developing us as good runners in general.”

When looking at the field at this year’s USATF Championships, Coburn recognizes that all of the top entrants are similar athletes to her. Many have succeeded in the past in cross country, run fast mile or 1500m times on the oval, and posses fine hurdle skills needed to clear steeplechase barriers. A combination of these talents can be lethal on the world stage. (A prime example is Michigan State’s O’Connor, who won an NCAA Cross Country team title last year, finished first in the NCAA Indoor Championships mile, and finished third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships steeplechase despite suffering from a nasty fall a day before.)

Yet Coburn knows it’s not all physical. The mental approach to the discipline has shifted as well. In past years, Americans would line up next to far superior Kenyans, Ethiopians, and Russians, knowing that the
ir overseas rivals would likely run away with titles. Coburn now laces up her New Balance spikes with the confidence that she can compete and defeat many of the world’s top steeplers, no matter their nationality.

“For me it’s about running aggressively and not necessarily being intimidated by them,” she said. “Domestically I think it’s a bit more fierce and internationally I’m feeling a little bit more at home racing those women.”

Even with Aisha Praught deciding to compete for Jamaica instead of the USA (she had run 9:34.69 for the steeplechase last year, and would have also contended for a spot on the World Championships squad), Team USA still looks like it has the ability to field three finalists for the World Championships steeplechase.

On both Thursday and Saturday, Coburn knows she will need to work hard to maintain her top spot in the U.S. She’s using the wave of improved steeplers as motivation to keep pushing.

“It’s fun to watch,” she said. “I hope that I can come away with another USA title, but the real priority is to just make the team and be one of those three spots.”

_____________
*Coburn’s time was not ratified as an American record because she was not selected for an in-competition drug test on the day of the performance

Author

  • Larry Eder

    Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

    View all posts
Previous Post

Preview of the 2015 USA Track & Field Champs, Eugene, Oregon, by Roy Stevenson

Next Post

[Audio] Usain Bolt Wins in adidas GP (almost live call)! by Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

Similar Post

Summary Xiamen Diamond League Report/Annotated Results
Diamond League

Deep Thoughts on the Opening of the 2025 Diamond League in Xiamen, China

May 13, 2025
2025 Grand Slam Track: Observations on the first day in Kingston
Uncategorized

Deep Thoughts on the Grand Slam Track Kingston Meeting

May 13, 2025
World Athletics Relays 2025 Guangzhou, An Introduction
Track & Field

South Africa Delivered, Jamaica Faltered, and Spain Stunned Us All

May 13, 2025
This Day in Track & Field History, April 18, 2024, Ray Norton, SJSU, ran 10.1 (1959), equals WR, Joan Benoit wins Boston (1983) in WR 2:22.43, by Walt Murphy News and Results Service
Athletic History

This Day in Track & Field, May 12, Joan Benoit Samuelson takes Olympic Trials Marathon weeks after arthroscopic surgery (1984), compiled and written by Walt Murphy

May 13, 2025
National Records Highlight Day 1 of Grand Slam Track’s Miami Slam, by Jay Holder for Grand Slam Track
Spring Training

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, May 12, 2025, week 9, day 1, Ninth Week of the season, Monday is the easy day!

May 12, 2025
Coffee with Larry (on You Tube), May 6, 2025, Thoughts on Grand Slam Track Miami, Shanghai Diamond League, and my Chat with BBC!
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry (on You Tube), May 6, 2025, Thoughts on Grand Slam Track Miami, Shanghai Diamond League, and my Chat with BBC!

May 13, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

April 5, 2023
2023 Nike Pre Classic: Two Amazing Days of Track & Field!

Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

March 7, 2024
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

February 6, 2025
An epic pole vault competition

An epic pole vault competition

October 19, 2023
Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

8
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

7
My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

7
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
Summary Xiamen Diamond League Report/Annotated Results

Deep Thoughts on the Opening of the 2025 Diamond League in Xiamen, China

May 13, 2025
2025 Grand Slam Track: Observations on the first day in Kingston

Deep Thoughts on the Grand Slam Track Kingston Meeting

May 13, 2025
World Athletics Relays 2025 Guangzhou, An Introduction

South Africa Delivered, Jamaica Faltered, and Spain Stunned Us All

May 13, 2025
This Day in Track & Field History, April 18, 2024, Ray Norton, SJSU, ran 10.1 (1959), equals WR, Joan Benoit wins Boston (1983) in WR 2:22.43, by Walt Murphy News and Results Service

This Day in Track & Field, May 12, Joan Benoit Samuelson takes Olympic Trials Marathon weeks after arthroscopic surgery (1984), compiled and written by Walt Murphy

May 13, 2025

Popular Stories

  • Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • An epic pole vault competition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, April 11, 2025, week 4, day 5, fourth week of year, Friday is an easy day!

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Summary Xiamen Diamond League Report/Annotated Results
Diamond League

Deep Thoughts on the Opening of the 2025 Diamond League in Xiamen, China

May 13, 2025
2025 Grand Slam Track: Observations on the first day in Kingston
Uncategorized

Deep Thoughts on the Grand Slam Track Kingston Meeting

May 13, 2025
World Athletics Relays 2025 Guangzhou, An Introduction
Track & Field

South Africa Delivered, Jamaica Faltered, and Spain Stunned Us All

May 13, 2025
This Day in Track & Field History, April 18, 2024, Ray Norton, SJSU, ran 10.1 (1959), equals WR, Joan Benoit wins Boston (1983) in WR 2:22.43, by Walt Murphy News and Results Service
Athletic History

This Day in Track & Field, May 12, Joan Benoit Samuelson takes Olympic Trials Marathon weeks after arthroscopic surgery (1984), compiled and written by Walt Murphy

May 13, 2025

Recent Tweets

Next Post

[Audio] Usain Bolt Wins in adidas GP (almost live call)! by Larry Eder

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved