FOR MORE THAN a decade, athletes and fans alike have expected national steeplechase finals to be the exclusive province of Emma Coburn. But this year’s result proved to be quite different as the 10-time champ (8 in a row) was rated only No. 3 on our formchart, behind Courtney Wayment and Krissy Gear.
The final — in which Olympic silver medalist Courtney Frerichs, who has the Worlds standard, did not start — appeared to be business as usual. Wayment dashed to the front to take the early lead, followed by Marisa Howard and Coburn. With 500m to go, Coburn picked up the tempo, moved into the lead, and methodically pulled away from the field.
Haven’t we seen this movie before? It had all the markings of yet another Coburn coronation. But suddenly there was an unexpected turn of events. ’22 Arkansas grad Gear — a relatively unheralded Hoka Northern Arizona Elite athlete — drew everyone’s attention as she shifted gears and went after the usual winner.
Coburn had a sizeable lead, but Gear was in gear and appeared to be closing quickly. The Hayward crowd roared as Gear, swiftly clearing the final waterjump, was gaining ground. On the final homestretch, the young challenger caught Coburn 25m short of the finish and sailed on for the win in a PR 9:12.81 that moved her to No. 6 on the all-time U.S. list.
The 10-time national champion crossed next in 9:13.60 with ’22 runner-up Wayment grabbing 3rd in 9:14.63.
For Gear, whose winning time, a PR by 10.74, earned her the necessary WC standard, it was an incredible outcome as she went from faces-in-the-crowd finalist to national champion and Team USA initiate.
Afterwards, the 23-year-old winner was all aglow. “I knew I had a couple of minutes to go, I try not to look at the clock,” explained the new champion about her race against time and real estate at the end.
Coburn, now 32, was gracious in her first Nationals defeat: “Worse stuff has happened to me than getting 2nd at a U.S. championship. So I’m not going to beat myself up. I am sad, I’m disappointed. I wanted to win this for reasons beyond myself.”
Then with a sudden smile, she exclaimed, “But I’m going to Budapest!”
WOMEN’S STEEPLE RESULTS
FINAL (July 08; interior waterjump)
1. Krissy Gear (HokaNnAz) 9:12.81 PR (6, x A)
(66.12, 2:17.65, 3:32.12, 4:46.47)
(40.62 [40.62], 73.78 [1:54.40], 76.22 [3:10.62], 75.72 [4:26.34], 74.35 [5:40.69], 74.47 [6:55.16], 71.53 [8:06.69], 66.12);
2. Emma Coburn (NBal) 9:13.60 (68.86, 2:20.31, 3:33.72, 4:47.38);
3. Courtney Wayment (OAC) 9:14.63 (69.50, 2:21.46, 3:34.96, 4:48.64);
4. Olivia Markezich (NDm) 9:17.93 PR (8, x A)
(68.59, 2:22.40, 3:37.34, 4:51.46);
5. Marisa Howard (TSIdA) 9:22.73;
6. Kaylee Mitchell (OrSt) 9:24.01 PR;
7. Logan Jolly (unat) 9:26.97 PR;
8. Lexy Halladay (BYU) 9:31.39 PR;
9. Carmen Graves (OisDen) 9:32.58 PR; 10. Gabbi Jennings (adidas) 9:38.15; 11. Madie Boreman (Ois) 9:41.53; 12. Kayley Delay (BrkB) 9:43.06; 13. Madeline Strandemo (OisLWA) 9:51.09;… dnc—Courtney Frerichs (NikBowTC).
HEATS (July 06)
I–1. Jolly 9:48.56; 2. Gear 9:48.81; 3. Markezich 9:49.08; 4. Wayment 9:49.26; 5. Delay 9:49.41; 6. Strandemo 9:53.99; 7. Emily Cole (Duke) 9:59.05; 8. Katie Thronson (NDm) 10:07.49; 9. Lydia Olivere (Vill) 10:10.19; 10. Abby Kohut-Jackson (UArm) 10:10.76; 11. Harper McClain (Or) 10:12.34; 12. Katie Rainsberger (NBal) 10:25.42.
II–1. Coburn 9:36.69; 2. Mitchell 9:38.15; 3. Howard 9:38.19; 4. Jennings 9:41.70; 5. Boreman 9:42.07; 6. Halladay 9:43.09; 7. Graves 9:43.11; 8. Frerichs 9:47.36; 9. Emma Gee (unat) 9:59.24; 10. Judi Jones (TSIdA) 10:02.69; 11. Angelina Ellis (Butler) 10:14.08; 12. Katelyn Mitchem (Wy) 10:25.62; 13. Meredith Rizzo (TSIdA) 10:45.73.