Colorado University Athletics

Emma Coburn
Photo by: USA Today Sports

Coburn Wins Gold at IAAF World Championships

August 11, 2017 | Track and Field

LONDON – Former Buff Emma Coburn won the gold medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the IAAF World Championships on Friday afternoon, making her the first American woman to win the event.
 
Coburn, powered away from the top group of runners right after the final water jump, sprinting to cross the finish line in 9:02.58. The time that now stands as the world championship meet and American record. 
 
American teammate Courtney Frerichs finished in second to take silver clocking a 9:03.77 time. The reigning world champion Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi finished third to take the bronze medal with a time of 9:04.03.
 
No American woman has ever medaled in the event at Worlds and no America duo has swept a distance event at the world championships or Olympic Games since 1912.
 
Coburn's time of 9:02.58 makes her the sixth fastest woman in steeplechase history.
 
The Buffs head home from the 2017 IAAF World Championships with some hardware as Jenny Simpson took silver in the 1,500-meters on Monday to go along with Coburn's gold.
 
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