by Sam Fariss
Courtney Frerichs, 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, photo by Kevin Morris @kevmofoto
I truly enjoyed Sam Fariss’ piece on Courtney Frerichs. Courtney Frerichs chose one of the toughest events in American Track & Field: the women’s steeplechase. No quarter given. The barriers do not actually get higher as one gets closer to the finish, it just feels like that. As the fatigue squanders even the most evenly run effort, it takes pure guts and drive to claw over the last lap, as your competitors charge and your body screams to give it a break. Frerichs is one tough steepler. I remember watching Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerich go gold and silver in London in 2017. I was truly exhausted after watching that race!
What will happen in Eugene in 2022? I for one, can not wait!
Run by Women, #8: Courtney Frerichs’ journey from a small town to the world stage
By Sam Fariss
Originally from Nixa, Missouri – a town of fewer than 25,000 people, Courtney Frerichs has made quite the name for herself in the United States’ track and field scene.
Her first few years of track and field competition led to great success in a variety of events, including; the 4×800 meter relay, the 5000 meter race and triple jump – a mixed bag that does not always present itself at such a young age.
Courtney Frerichs, 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, photo by Kevin Morris @kevmofoto
Following her success in high school, Frerichs was recruited by the University of Missouri-Kansas City at Volker and eventually transferred to the University of New Mexico, both Division I track and field programs.
While attending UMKC, Frerichs combined her high school talents and discovered that she was quite talented at the 3000 meter steeplechase race; consisting of both running and jumping.
Courtney Frerichs, 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, photo by Kevin Morris @kevmofoto
Once she transferred to New Mexico, Frerichs began to truly find success in the field. She finished first in the Stanford Invitational, the Payton Jordan Invitational, the WAC Championships and the NCAA West Preliminary Round.
Her collegiate competition was capped off by a second-place finish at the NCAA championships in Eugene, Oregon in 2015.
Frerichs signed with Bowerman Track Club to begin her professional career and her success has only blossomed since then. Qualifying for both the 2016 Rio Games and the 2020 Tokyo Games, Frerichs has been a proud member of Team USA for the past five years.
Courtney Frerichs, 2021 Nike Pre Classic, photo by How Lao Photography
While she struggled to finish just outside of the top 10 at Rio, with her 11th place, Frerichs was quick to bounce back at the 2017 World Championships finishing 2nd in the 3000 meter steeplechase. During the summer of 2018, at the iconic Stade Louis II in Monaco, Courtney set a new American record in the steeplechase, with her gutty 9:00.85, surpassing the AR of Emma Coburn.
Norah Jeruto, Courtney Frerichs, 2021 Nike Pre Classic, photo by How Lao Photography
The crowning moment of her career so far must be her silver Olympic medal finish at the Tokyo Games during the summer of 2021, running a 9:04.79 in hot and humid Tokyo. The Olympic medal should be a nice addition to her World Championships (2017) silver medal.
Courtney Frerichs, 2021 Nike Pre Classic, photo by How Lao Photography
Courtney Frerichs ended 2021 in spectacular fashion, taking second in the Nike Pre Classic steeplechase to Norah Jeruto’s 8:53.65, with her own 8:57.77, becoming the first American women under 9 minutes in the steeple and breaking her own AR of 9:00.85, set in 2018. The two time Olympian now has two global medals and has entered the coterie of women who have run under 9 minutes in the steeplechase.
What will 2022 bring for Courtney Frerichs?
Stay tuned.
Courtney Frerichs, 8:57.77 AR, 2021 Nike Pre Classic, photo by How Lao Photography
