Shalaya Kipp and Emma Coburn run in the first round of the U.S. Olympic Trials
Shalaya Kipp and Emma Coburn race in the first round of the steeplechase at the U.S. Trials.
Photo by: Gary Breedlove

Coburn & Kipp Advance To Olympic Trials Steeplechase Finals

July 04, 2016 | Track and Field

By: by Linda Sprouse, Assistant SID

EUGENE, Ore. —On the most patriotic day of the year, four Buffs, one current and three former, competed for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
 
Two of those athletes' dreams were kept alive as former Buffs Emma Coburn and Shalaya Kipp advanced to the finals of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials on Monday afternoon.
 
Coburn cruised to an easy finish, taking the third heat with the fastest time of the day at 9:35.28, while Kipp ended up third in the section with a mark of 9:38.01.
 
"Today was all about getting though," Coburn said. "I wanted to be as relaxed as possible. I wanted to make sure I got over every barrier without clipping it and through the water jump without any drama. Today was just about being careful. Today was making sure nothing crazy happened."
 
The duo ran in the third section of the event with current Buff, Erin Clark, who ended her sophomore track season by placing seventh in the section in 10:00.85.
 
Coburn led for the duration of the race, going to the front at the start. Kipp was right with her, running just behind, and was never lower than third in the race. Clark worked her way up in the pack gradually, going from 12th to seventh.
 
Coburn and Kipp will be looking for their second trip to the Olympic Games as they both qualified for the U.S. team in 2012. That year Coburn won the trials, while Kipp was third. The finals are set for Thursday night and will be shown live on NBC Sports Network at 8:48 p.m. MT.
 
Another former Buff, Aric Van Halen, ran in his first Olympic Trials in the steeplechase, finishing 16th overall and just missing the finals.
 
There were only two heats in the men's race with the top five finishers in each advancing to the finals and then the next four on time. Van Halen held the final automatic qualifying spot at fifth heading into the final water jump, but just missed the barrier, falling into the water. He recovered quickly, but wasn't able to regain the ground he lost in the fall, finishing seventh in the heat and 16th overall in 8:38.67, just 1.07 seconds from the last time qualifying spot.
 
Tuesday is a rest day at the trials, but action will resume on Wednesday, July 6, with former Buff Emily Hunsucker competing in the hammer throw.
 
A complete schedule for current and former CU athletes is below.
 
2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field – Results
Hayward Field (Eugene, Ore.)
 
Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase semifinals (overall results): 1. Emma Coburn, 9:35. 28; 6. Shalaya Kipp, 9:38.01; 23. Erin Clark, 10:00.85.
 
Heat 3 results (out of 3) – top three automatically advance.
  1. Emma Coburn, New Balance, 9:35.28
  2. Megan Rolland, Oiselle, 9:38
  3. Shalaya Kipp, Oiselle, 9:38.01
  4. Mel Lawrence, Oiselle, 9:42.05
  5. Katie Landwehr, Michigan State, 9:46.16
  6. Sarah Boyle, Saucony, 9:58.27
  7. Erin Clark, Colorado, 10:00.85
  8. Becky Wade, ASICS, 10:04.10
  9. Megan Patignello, Team Run Eugene, 10:07.68
  10. Emily Oren, unattached, 10:12.97
  11. Danielle Winslow, Boston College, 10:22.18
  12. 12. Carmen Graves, adidas Garden State TC, 10:31.29
 
Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase semifinals (overall results): (1. Donn Cabral, Nike, 8:26.96) 16. Aric Van Halen, unattached, 8:38.67
Heat 2 results (out of 2) – top five automatically advance.
  1. Evan Jager, Nike Bowerman TC, 8:33.73
  2. Mason Ferlic, unattached, 8:34.45
  3. Hillary Bor, Army, 8:34.48
  4. Cory Leslie, Nike, 8:36.97
  5. Isaac Updike, Team Run Eugene, 8:37.14
  6. Caleb Hoover, unattached 8:37.70
  7. Aric Van Halen, unattached, 8:38.67
  8. Donnie Cowart, Saucony, 8:39.45
  9. Darren Fahy, Georgetown, 8:44.43
  10. Michael Jordan, NJ-NY TC, 9:08.61
  11. Dylan Blankenbaker, Oklahoma, 9:19.40
  12. Mike Hardy, unattached, DNF
 
University of Colorado Schedule
Times are Pacific
 
July 6 Event Entry How To Watch*
1 p.m. Hammer Throw-Qualifying Emily Hunsucker N/A
3 p.m. Hammer Throw-Finals Emily Hunsucker N/A
 
July 7 Event Entry How To Watch*
4:20 p.m. 5,000m-First Round Jessica Tebo USATF.tv
5,000m-First Round Laura Thweatt USATF.tv
6 p.m. Discus – Qualifying Casey Malone N/A
6:26 p.m. 1,500m-First Round Jenny Simpson NBCSN
1,500m-First Round Sara Sutherland NBCSN
1,500m-First Round Sara Vaughn NBCSN
7:21 p.m. 1,500m-First Round Ben Saarel NBCSN
7:48 p.m. Steeplechase-Finals Emma Coburn NBCSN
Steeplechase-Finals Shalaya Kipp NBCSN
 
July 8 Event Entry How To Watch*
3:30 p.m. Discus-Finals Casey Malone NBCSN
4:12 p.m. 1,500m-Semifinals Ben Saarel NBCSN
5:03 p.m. 1,500m-Semifinals Jenny Simpson NBC
1,500m-Semifinals Sara Sutherland NBC
1,500m-Semifinals Sara Vaughn NBC
 
July 10 Event Entry How To Watch*
4:28 p.m. 5,000m-Finals Jessica Tebo NBC
5,000m-Finals Laura Thweatt NBC
5 p.m. 1,500m-Finals Jenny Simpson NBC
1,500m-Finals Sara Sutherland NBC
1,500m-Finals Sara Vaughn NBC
5:20 p.m. 1,500m-Finals Ben Saarel NBC
 
 
*Selected events at the championship will be televised live on NBC and NBC Sports Network.
 
  • Declarations for each event have to be made 48 hours prior to each event. The size of the field for each event ranges from 18-34.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Erin Clark

Distance
/ Track and Field

Ben Saarel

Distance
/ Track and Field

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