Colorado University Athletics
Coburn Runs World's Best Steeplechase Mark for 2010
April 15, 2010 | Track and Field
WALNUT, Calif. -University of Colorado sophomore Emma Coburn is picking up where former teammate Jenny Barringer left off in the 3,000-meter steeplechase as she recorded the fastest time in the world for the 2010 season at the Mt. SAC Relays on Thursday night.
It was an exciting race for the Crested Butte, Colo. native as Coburn recorded a time of 9 minutes, 56.29 seconds en route to a personal best. She shot out to the front of the pack at the start of the race and was in fourth after the first 200 meters. She moved up to second after the first full lap and would stay there for much of the rest of the race. Coburn was keeping a nice pace and looked comfortable during the race. She was a few meters behind Lennie Waite (unattached) and had the same distance between her and Japan's Yoshika Arai who was in third at the time.
The trio came through the 1,600-meter mark with a time just over 5:10. Coburn started to lose a little ground to Waite, but she continued to maintain her composure and held strong. Just after entering the bell lap, Coburn hit the fifth-to-last barrier and stumbled slightly. She didn't seem to lose any ground and it did not seem to have an effect on her race as she kept Waite in her sight. Heading over the final water jump, Coburn looked to be picking up steam and in the last 100 meters it was obvious she was making a push to take the race. With just a few meters of the race remaining, Coburn surged past Waite and took the race and the title. Waite finished less than half a second behind Coburn (9:56.73).
Prior to Coburn's sub-10 minute performance, Baylor's Erin Bedell owned the top time in the NCAA at 10:03.81. Shayla Houlihan had the best time by an American (and the top time in the world) at 10:03.26.
Coburn's time makes her just the second Buff to finish the race in less than 10 minutes; improving on her previous personal record and U.S. Junior record of 10:06.21 by almost 10 seconds. The time is also the 19th best in CU history.
On the men's side, junior Christian Thompson recorded a 14th-place finish in the men's invitational section of the steeplechase. He crossed the finish in 9:03.04.
Former Buff Billy Nelson also competed in the invitational section. Nelson went to the front of the pack to start the race. With four laps remaining in the race, he fell from third to 12th after stopping to fix his shoe. Nelson worked his way back up to eighth (8:52.88).
Freshman Aric Van Halen made his collegiate debut in the steeplechase and finished third in the open section. Teammate Cameron Clayton was sixth in the same heat. (Times were not available.)
The Buffs will continue to compete at the Mt. SAC Relays on Friday and Saturday.
- Colorado -
MT SAC RELAYS
Walnut, Calif. (Hilmer Lodge Stadium)
CU Athletes Only (Unless Noted)
Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase (invitational section): 1. Emma Coburn, 9:56.29
Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase (invitational section): (1. Hillary Bor, Iowa State, 8:38.05) 8. Billy Nelson, NIKE, 8:52.88; 14. Christian Thompson, 9:03.04
Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase (open division): (1. Ryan Haebe, unattached)3. Aric Van Halen ; 6. Cameron Clayton, - times are not available
