WITH PERENNIAL TEAM USA leaders Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs on the DL, the steeple looked ripe for a new generation of stars. Val Constien, who made the ’21 team and since battled through a torn ACL and surgery, led the charge in an amazing race that surpassed all expectations.
The qualifying didn’t affect the formcharts much, only No. 9 Gracie Hyde missing out and then only by 0.01. Kaylee Mitchell (9:29.54) and Constien (9:29.61) led the first and Gabbi Jennings (9:23.88) and Marisa Howard (9:26.38) the second.
In the final, Annie Rodenfels put her stamp on the race immediately, going to the front and laying down a pace faster than Coburn’s 9:09.41 meet record. Shooting her left arm out to the side with a leftward step 2 or 3 strides before almost every barrier, she tore through the first K in 3:00.53, her lead stretching to 20m at times. Courtney Wayment, 4th in the ’21 Trials, led the chase pack, finally nabbing her at 1800.
Passing 2K in 6:08.23, Wayment led Constien and Howard with the pack beginning to stretch out. Olivia Markezich joined the mix and when Howard surprised with a move to the front with 500 left, the Notre Dame alum passed Wayment for 3rd.
At the bell, Constien streaked to the lead in a surge that couldn’t be denied. Her margin grew on the backstretch as Markezich battled into 2nd and Wayment and Howard tussled over the final Paris berth.
With Constien safely on her way to victory at the last water jump Markezich stumbled, allowing Wayment and Howard to pass her. The three stayed together tightly until the final hurdle, when Markezich lost her footing and fell after clearing.
Constien celebrated a meet record 9:03.22, with Wayment besting Howard in the final dash, 9:06.50–9:07.14. Both Jennings (9:12.08) and Mitchell (9:14.05) caught Markezich (9:14.87 after the fall!) on the run-in as everyone in the top 9 PRed and bettered the Olympic standard of 9:23.00.
Constien, who had her ACL reconstruction last summer, said, “I didn’t rush anything. I just listened to the surgeon’s advice and was patient, and that patience paid off. I knew it was going to be fast. Did I think it was going to be 9:03? No! I feel like I’m just starting to reach my potential and figure out how good I am.”
“American steepling,” said Wayment, who drove the record pace in the last half, “we’re starting to make our marks again. It’s not just one, it’s not just two, everyone’s here to raise the bar, and it’s special to be a part of that.”
“Complete disbelief,” is how the 31-year-old Howard characterized her reaction to making the team with a 15+-second PR. “I knew I had a big one in me. It was just a matter of putting it together on the day.”
WOMEN’S STEEPLE RESULTS
FINAL (June 27)
1. Val Constien (Nike) 9:03.22 PR (AL) (3, 5 A) (MR);
2. Courtney Wayment (On) 9:06.50 PR (4, 10 A);
3. Marisa Howard (TSIdA) 9:07.14 PR (5, 13 A);
4. Gabbi Jennings (adidas) 9:12.08 PR (7, x A);
5. Kaylee Mitchell (Nike) 9:14.05 PR (10, x A);
6. Olivia Markezich (OAC) 9:14.87 PR (11, x A);
7. Allie Ostrander (unat) 9:21.82 PR;
8. Annie Rodenfels (BAA) 9:22.66 PR;
9. Lexy Halladay (BYU) 9:22.77 PR; 10. Logan Jolly (Asics) 9:26.32; 11. Angelina Ellis (UArmDS) 9:28.19; 12. Kayley DeLay (BrkB) 9:29.07; 13. Madie Boreman (Ois) 9:31.41, Krissy Gear (Hoka).
HEATS (June 24)
I–1. Mitchell 9:29.54; 2. Constien 9:29.61; 3. Wayment 9:29.66; 4. Boreman 9:30.26; 5. Ellis 9:33.11; 6. Rodenfels 9:33.12; 7. Jolly 9:33.91; 8. Carmen Graves (OisDen) 9:47.07; 9. Sophie Novak (NDm) 9:49.55; 10. Dana Klein (TS) 9:50.54; 11. Taylor Lovell (BYU) 9:52.78; 12. Jenna Melanson (unat) 9:56.44; 13. Calli Doan (Lib) 10:01.77; 14. Katie Thronson (TS) 10:10.40; 15. Emma Gee (unat) 10:12.76.
II–1. Jennings 9:23.88; 2. Howard 9:26.38; 3. Markezich 9:26.67; 4. Halladay 9:27.36; 5. Ostrander 9:29.32; 6. Gear 9:30.92; 7. DeLay 9:31.04; 8. Gracie Hyde (unat) 9:33.92; 9. Janette Schraft (IaSt) 9:51.35; 10. Colett Rampf (USAr) 9:51.67; 11. Karrie Baloga (NnAz) 9:51.79; 12. Judi Jones (unat) 9:52.56; 13. Lydia Olivere (UArmMRB) 10:00.71; 14. Emma Tavella (BC) 10:00.84; 15. Madison Neuner (Syr) 10:12.95.
