Emma Coburn

Position:
Distance
Height:
5-8
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Crested Butte, Colo.
High School:
Crested Butte

PERSONAL BESTS

INDOOR

800-Meters: 2:19.98 (2009)

1,000-Meters: 2:52.43 (2009)

Mile: 4:29.86 (2013)

3,000-Meters: 9:17.46 (2011)

OUTDOOR

800-Meters: 2:09.81 (2010)

1,500-Meters: 4:06.87 (2013)

Steeplechase: 9:23.56 (2012)

BIG 12 SCORING

2009 (O) Steeplechase, 4th (10:33.49)

2010 (I) Mile, 6th (4:43.87)

2010 (I) Distance Medley Relay, 5th (11:34.32)

2010 (O) 800-Meter Run, 6th (2:12.44)

2010 (O) Steeplechase, 1st (9:56.53, meet record)

2011 (I) 3,000-Meter Run, 1st (9:17.46)

2011 (I) Distance Medley Relay, 4th (11:22.87)

2011 (O) Steeplechase, 1st (9:57.39)

PAC-12 SCORING

2013 (O) Steeplechase, 1st (9:55.67)

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP SCORING

2010 (O) Steeplechase, 2nd (9:51.86)

2011 (I) Mile, 8th (4:36.08)

2011 (O) Steeplechase, 1st (9:41.14)

2013 (I) Mile, 1st (4:29.91)

2011 (O) Steeplechase, 1st (9:35.38)

HONORS

Eight-time All-Big 12 honoree

Five-time All-American

2010, 11 Big 12 Steeplechase Champion

2013 Pac-12 Steeplechase Champion

2010 Outdoor All-American (Steeplechase, 2nd)

2011 Indoor All-American (Mile, 8th)

2011 Outdoor All-American (Steeplechase, 1st)

2013 Indoor All-American (Mile, 1st)

2013 Outdoor All-American (Steeplechase, 1^st)

CU Co-Female Athlete of the Year (2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13)

CU Career Athletic Achievement Award Winner (2012-13)

Big 12 Athlete of the Week (4/20/11)

USATF Athlete of the Week (5/3/11)

Pac-12 Athlete of the Week (4/30/13)

2011 USATF Steeplechase Champion (9:44.11)

2011 IAAF World Championships participant

2011 Mile High Sports Magazine Collegiate Athlete of the Year

2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Steeplechase Champion

2012 Olympian (steeplechase)

2013 USTFCCCA Indoor and Outdoor Mountain Region Female Track Athlete of the Year

2013 The Bowerman Semifinalist

ACADEMIC HONORS

Academic All-Big 12 (2010, 11)

MPSF All-Academic (2013)
Pac-12 All-Academic (2013)

CAREER UPDATE: Coburn became just the third student-athlete with eligibility remaining to qualify for the Olympic Summer Games in 2012 after winning the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the steeplechase (her teammate Shalaya Kipp is the fourth as she also qualified in the steeplechase). Coburn ran the fastest American time on U.S. soil at the Nike Prefontaine Classic in June of 2012, finishing fifth (9:25.28). The Crested Butte, Colo. native left her mark on CU’s record book. Indoors, she is the second-best CU performer in the mile (4:29.86) and sixth in the 3,000 (9:17.46). Coburn ran the anchor leg in the CU record-setting distance medley relay than placed fourth at the 2011 Big 12 Championship with a time of 11:22.87. Nationally, she is the fifth fastest performer in the mile and is the only American to ever run a sub-4:30 mile twice, both during the 2013 season. On the outdoor track, she is the second fastest performer in the steeplechase (9:23:54) and second in the 1,500 (4:06.87) at CU. Nationally, she is second in the steeplechase (9:28.26) and is fifth in the 1,500 (4:06.87). Coburn was one of two women to ever run a sub-9:30 steeplechase and did it twice in uniform. She finished her career as a five-time All-American on the track before signing a professional contract.

2013: Indoor: Coburn only raced three times during her final indoor season, but she made them count. She started the year at the prestigious 106^th Millrose Games, competing with a very elite group of the nation’s best milers, collegiate and professional. Coburn finished the race fourth and was the top collegiate finisher, crossing the finish in 4:29.86 to become the fifth fastest NCAA performer of all time. The time ranked sixth overall and was the fastest recorded since the 2009 season. Her next race was the preliminary round at the NCAA Championships where she won her heat in 4:37.47 to advance to the finals. Coburn became the first Buff, male or female, to win an NCAA mile championships the following night when she once again ran a sub-4:30 mile at 4:29.91. Coburn joined Sally Kipyego as just the second collegiate athlete to run a pair of sub-4:30 times and in the process became the first American. Her 4:29.86 and 4:29.91 rank sixth and seventh all-time.

Outdoor: Coburn continued to have a brilliant season. She ran the then-fastest steeplechase time in the world at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invite (9:28.26) in Stanford, Calif. just two days after her 2013 1,500-meter debut (4:11.36) at the 106th Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. Coburn won her first Pac-12 title in the steeplechase in May (9:55.67). Instead of taking a week off between conference and the NCAA West Preliminary Championship, she took to the track again in a field of professional athletes at the OXY High Performance meet in the 1,500 and blazed to a PR of 4:06.87 while becoming the fifth-best performer in NCAA history. At the NCAA West Preliminary Championships, Coburn turned her focus back to the steeplechase and cruised to a victory (9:55.30) to advance to the NCAA Championships where she would claim her second NCAA title in the steeplechase. Coburn won in 9:35.38.

2012: Indoor: Redshirt. Did not compete.

Outdoor: Redshirt. Did not compete for the Buffs. Coburn competed unattached in preparation for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Her first race of the season was on May 18 at the Occidental College High Performance meet. She raced the 1,500 and finished with a PR of 4:09.42. Coburn switched gears to her main event, the steeplechase, and placed fifth at the prestigious Nike Prefontaine Classic on June 3. Her time of 9:25.28 was the fastest ever ran by an American on U.S. soil and if she wasn’t redshirting, it would have been the collegiate record. Coburn entered the trials as the favorite and easily won in 9:32.78 to become the third current CU student-athlete with eligibility remaining to compete at an Olympic Summer Games. At the Games, she advanced to the finals by placing third in the second section (9:27.51). Coburn ended her year with a ninth-place finish and was the highest placing American in the finals with a personal best time of 9:23.54.

2011: Indoor: Coburn had another season to remember, focusing mainly in the mile run. She started the season off by running the mile in 4:43.58 at the UW Invite (1/29), finishing fifth overall. Two weeks later, Coburn raced to the fourth best time in school history and became the second fastest performer in the event with a time of 4:37.44 at the Husky Classic (2/12). Coburn shifted gears at the Big 12 Championship, competing in the 3,000 and distance medley relay. She captured the indoor 3k title with the ninth-best time in CU history (9:17.46), running in the unseeded section. Coburn also ran the anchor leg for the DMR, leading the Buffs to a fourth-place finish with a school record time (11:22.87), breaking a 12-year-old record of 11:23.87. Coburn went back to the mile, competing at the NCAA Championships. She advanced to the finals after running the third best time in CU history (4:36.99), which was fifth overall. She saved the best time for last, running the second best time of 4:36.08 to place eighth overall and earn her first indoor All-American honor.

Outdoor: Coburn continued to shine during the outdoor season, focusing mainly on the steeplechase. During the course of the season, she improved her personal record by 14.24 seconds. Coburn’s first steeplechase race of the season was at the Cardinal Invite (5/1). She won the race with the-then fastest time in the world (9:40.51), defeating several professionals in the process while earning the Olympic ‘A’ standard. Two weeks later, Coburn won her second Big 12 Steeplechase crown in 9:57.39. She advanced to the NCAA West Preliminary Championships and won the meet in 9:55.03. At the NCAA Championships, she won her preliminary section in 10:00.43, which was second overall. Two days later, Coburn won her first NCAA Individual Championship and second All-American honor in the steeplechase. She crossed the finish in 9:41.14, 6.15 seconds ahead of the runner-up (Virginia’s Stephanie Garcia). Coburn kept her season going, competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships two weeks later. She advanced to the finals after finishing ninth overall in the prelims (9:59.75). Coburn had an exciting final and just edged the 2010 NCAA Champion, Bridget Franek, by 0.79 seconds to win the USA title (9:44.11). The win earned her a spot on the U.S. World Championships team, extending her season. She competed twice before the world championships, first in 1,500. Coburn became the fourth fastest Buff in the 1,500 after finishing her Belgium race in 4:12.97. She then ran a personal best and the 13^th fastest time in school history of 9:37.16 at the London Grand Prix. At the world championships, she was the only American to advance to the finals, finishing in 9:38.42, 14^th overall. Coburn ended the season with a 13^th-place finish (9:51.40) and after the disqualification of a competitor, moved up to 12^th overall. Over the course of the season, Coburn earned several honors, including the USATF Athlete of the Week, Big 12 Athlete of the Week and the CU co-Female Athlete of the Year.

2010: Indoor: Coburn concentrated on the mile during her sophomore indoor campaign, dropping her personal best by more than 10 seconds from 4:53.27 to 4:42.56. She ran the 10^th and 15^th fastest times ever at CU, including her PR of 4:42.56 at the UW Final Qualifier (3/2). Coburn ran a time of 4:43.87 in the finals of the mile at the Big 12 meet and recorded a sixth-place finish. She also helped the Buffs to a fifth-place finish in the distance medley relay. The team (Katie Cumming, Elizabeth Tremblay, Brianne Beemer and Coburn) ran a time of 11:34.32, the fourth fastest ever at CU.

Outdoor: Coburn continued to lead the Buffs during the outdoor season. She started the season by running the 800 at the CU Invite (4/10). Coburn finished first and in the process, became the seventh fastest CU female in the event. She followed up that performance when she debuted in the steeplechase at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays (4/16). Coburn clocked the then-fastest time in the world at 9:56.29 to win the race and become just the second Buffalo to finish the race in less than 10 minutes. Her next race was a 1500, where she knocked off six seconds from her then-PR (4:27.69) when she ran 4:21.37 to finish fifth in the second section to become the seventh fastest performer in the event at Colorado. Coburn was the high points scorer for the Buff once again at the Big 12 Championship when she recorded 13 points. She qualified for the finals in the 800 after running the 12^th best time in CU history (2:09.81). Coburn came back in the finals to run 2:12.44 and secure a sixth-place finish. It also made her the fourth fastest performer ever in the event. Just prior to scoring for the Buffs in the 800, Coburn won her first Big 12 title, setting a conference record of 9:56.53. She focused on the steeplechase for nationals and easily made it through the NCAA West Prelims in the event after running the second fastest time (10:08.35). The semis were also a breeze for the sophomore as she finished second overall (9:59.69). Coburn had a strong finish to her season when she placed second in the finals. Penn State’s Bridget Franek won the race in 9:38.86, but Coburn crossed the finish in 9:51.86, the 18^th fastest time at CU. She had the second fastest time in all of the NCAA Division I for the season and improved on her 2009 season best by 14.35 seconds.

2009: Indoor: Coburn had a great first season on the track for the Buffs. She ran in a pair of events at the Big 12 Indoor Championship and just missed scoring in the 1,000-meter run when she placed ninth with a time of 2:52.43. Coburn was 17^th overall in the 3k with a personal best of 9:48.89.

Outdoor: Coburn concentrated on the 3,000-meter steeplechase, but did run the 800 and 1,500 as well. She earned her first letter on the track after she placed fourth (10:33.49) at the conference championships. Coburn advanced to the regional meet and placed ninth overall (10:25.82). Due to her personal record at the time (10:06.54 at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invite), she qualified for the NCAA Championship. Coburn advanced to the finals after running a then-PR of 10:06.21, which doubled as the USA Junior record in the event. She ended up 11^th in the finals to cap her first season for the Buffs.

CROSS COUNTRY: (2011) Coburn had a great final cross country season for the Buffs, earning All-Pac-12 First Team, all-region and All-America honors. She was CU’s No. 2 finisher in all three races she competed in, including a pair of fifth-place finishes at the Pac-12 and regional championships. Coburn earned her first All-American honor when she crossed the finish 20^th overall at nationals. She helped the Buffs win the inaugural Pac-12 title, tied for first in the regional championship and placed 11^th at NCAAs. (2010) Coburn stepped into a leadership role her junior year. She started the season by taking second place at the Rocky Mountain Shootout, finishing just one second behind teammate Laura Tremblay. Two weeks, later she placed 14^th overall at pre-nats. Coburn added to her list of accomplishments after earning all-conference and all-region honors. She placed fifth at the Big 12 Championship and was 11^th at the regional meet. Coburn ended the year by taking 53^rd overall at nationals. (2009) Coburn continued as part of the varsity roster. She started strong with a third-place finish at the Rocky Mountain Shootout behind teammates Jenny Barringer and Allie McLaughlin. At pre-nats, she was 32^nd overall and scored for the Buffs as the No. 5 racer. Coburn once again finished as the fifth scorer for CU at the Big 12 Championships and was 22^nd overall. Regionals was the best personal performance for Coburn as she took 16^th overall to earn her first all-region honor. At the NCAA championship, Coburn placed 115^th. (2008) Coburn made an immediate impact for the Buffs as a freshman, earning a spot on the varsity roster. She took 25^th overall and was the No. 6 harrier for CU in her debut at the ISU Open. Coburn followed it up by taking eighth at the Rocky Mountain Shootout. A few weeks later at Pre-Nationals, she was CU’s No. 5 (139^th). Coburn moved up to the Buffs third racer at the conference (27^th) and regional (30^th) meets.

HIGH SCHOOL: Coburn was an all-state performer for four years for the Titans, including two fourth place finishes at the state cross country meet in 2006 and 2007. She placed 29^th at the 2007 Foot Locker Midwest Championship. On the track, Coburn was an eight-time 2A state champion. She owns five CBHS records: 400m (1:02), 800m (2:16), 1,600m (5:11), 3,200m (11:32), the 4x800-meter relay and in the high jump (5 feet, 1 inch). She ran the 2,000-meter steeplechase at Nike Outdoor Nationals and placed second in 2008 and was fourth in 2007, earning a pair of All-American honors. Her time in 2008 was the fifth fastest time in high school history. Coburn was also a member of the basketball and volleyball in high school.

HIGH SCHOOL BESTS: 1,600-Meters: 5:09; 2,000-Meter Steeplechase: 6:42.

ACADEMICS: Coburn graduated with a degree in marketing at Colorado and a GPA greater than 3.2. She was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, was named to the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team in 2010 and 11 and was a Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention selection in 2013.

PERSONAL: Emma Jane Coburn was born on October 19, 1990 in Boulder, Colo. She is the daughter of Bill and Annie Coburn of Crested Butte, Colo. She has three siblings, Willy, Gracie and Joe. Coburn has volunteered with Living Journeys Cancer Foundation and the Mountain Adventure Kid’s Camp.