Emma Coburn is one of my favorite athletes. I have watched Emma develop from a fine college athlete at the University of Colorado through her Olympic bronze medal in 2016, World Champs gold in 2017 in London, and silver in Doha in 2019.
There is a story I have never told about Emma’s should-have-been AR at the Glasgow Diamond League meeting on July 12, 2014. The AR at the time dated to 2009, set by Jenny Simpson in 9:12.50 in the final of the 2009 Berlin World Championships.
I had been traveling around Europe in 2014, spending most of my summer there at the Commonwealth Games, European Championships, and Diamond League meetings.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 15-26, 2022, Steeplechasee, photo by Kevin Morris
The Glasgow Diamond League meeting was a fine meet. In the women’s steeple, Emma finished second behind Hiwot Ayalew, running 9:11.42. I was one of the few in the mixed zone, waiting for Emma. I had teared up, realizing how hard Emma had run, and had to catch my breath. Emma was very kind, gave me a moment to breathe, and we did our interview. The sad thing was that AR was not accepted as the drug testing protocol was not followed: USATF rules note that drug testing must be done immediately after the event. It was not. Emma had been tested the week before and the week after the Glasgow race, but that did not count. There had been a miscommunication in the USATF team.
It would be May 28, 2026, at the NIKE Pre Classic, where Emma would finally get the AR she had set two years prior, with her 9:10.76!
Emma Coburn’s best comes from the Doha 2019 World Championships, where she ran an AR of 9:02.35 on September 20, 2019.
The fans see the big medal moments. One must look below the surface level to see the trials and tribulations of an Olympic medalist and World Champion. In Tokyo 2021, Emma had a very difficult Olympic final, fell on the last lap, and was Dqed. She later called it a “disaster”.
Champions, real champions, come back from their trials and tribulations. Emma Coburn is such an athlete. At the 2021 Olympics, Emma made the US team for the 2022 WC in Eugene. It was a very tough race, with a scary pace set by Norah Jeruto. Emma stayed in the game through 2000 meters, staying in the fray, between 4th and 5th places. Jeruto went on to win in 8:53.02, with three women under the magical 9 minutes. Emma finished in a worn-out 8th place, in 9:16.49.
Emma had suffered hamstring injuries in 2023, and she could not compete in the final in Budapest. The incredible consistency ( US titles in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022) is iconic.
In April 2024, Emma broke her ankle in Shanghai, China. It would be two years before Emma Coburn could run the Steeplechase again.
In those two years, Emma joined training partners Gabbi Jennings and Parker Valby and trained with them during training blocks. Emma and her husband, coach Joe Bosshard, also had a daugther. An approach described by some observers as ‘Holistic’ helped Emma recover from her injuries, both physical and psychological as well.
The Steeplechase has thirty-five barriers: 28 steeple barriers and seven water jumps. The steeple used to be run by American distance runners who could not make it in the two-mile or 5000-meter races. Americans who took it seriously, those who trained over the barriers, learned how to water jump and respected the endurance, speed, and agility needed, sometimes did well at the distance.
Running with training partners works for many athletes. For Emma Coburn, Gabbi Jennings, and Parker Valby, it seems to have worked wonders! Gabbi has been a member of Team Boss since 2021. Gabbi Jennings ran 9:07.70 at the Rome DL in 2024; her PB is 9:06.61 at the 50th NIKE Pre Classic on July 5, 2026.
At the LA TrackFest, Emma Coburn and Gabbi Jennings battled Elise Thorner in a steeplechase run in near-perfect conditions. This would be Emma’s first steeple finish since 2023. In a hotly contested race, Elise Thorner /GBR, won in a PB of 9:07.39, putting Elise as number two on the All Time UK list. Gabbi Jennings finished second in 9:21.57, a good season rust buster. Emma Coburn finished in third in a fine 9:23.87; her first steeple in three years was a huge success!
Shortly afterward, Parker Valby, the training partner of Emma Coburn and Gabbi Jennings, raced the 5,0000 meters. Taking the lead around seven minutes, Parker Valby, NCAA Champion and former NCAA record holder, won in a PB of 14:49.41, with Lauren Ryan, UA/Australia, in a PB of 14:53.77, and Elise Stearns in a PB of 14:55.24.
For Parker Valby, who embraced Emma Coburn after the race, there were tears of joy for both athletes. Parker had spent 19 months injured, with a broken navicular bone, which occured in February 2025 at the NB Indoor GP 3000 meters. During that nightmare, Parker left Boston, homesick for Florida, and went back to her college coach, Will Palmer.
Parker Valby then joined Emma Coburn and Gabbi Jennings for several training blocks. The three athletes worked well together,r and the LA TrackFest is a wonderful example of battling back from injuries and staying motivated and focused.
I have included a photo in this story of Gabbi Jennings, Emma Coburn, and Parker Valby jogging the day before the LA TrackFest. All three of these athletes have found systems that work for them and partners in the “Miles of Trials and Trials of Miles,” to quote the great, iconic author John Parker (Once a Runner).
We wish Emma Coburn, Parker Valb,y and Gabbi Jennings much success. Oh, and yes, Emma, watching you and Parker teared me up once again. After fifty years of witnessing great athletes, great events, and great people in our sport, I have come to realize that each gutty fourth place, or whatever the finish, is a story known to the people who just competed, their coaches, their families, and their fans.
That is the wonder of our sport.
