Olympic Trials: Women's Steeplechase

Emma Coburn Cruises, Bridget Franek and Shalaya Kipp Head to London

Emma Coburn of Colorado has run so much faster in this event than anyone else in the field that it was going to take a Herculean effort to upset her. Bridget Franke, Delilah DiCrescenzo (yes, that Delilah), Sara Hall (yes, of THAT Hall family), and Ashley Higginson (what's up New Jersey!) all looked to vie for one of the top spots.

The NBC coverage cut away for a few minutes but when they came back it was what we expected: Coburn with a healthy lead. She just looked effortless and looked strong over the water pit. Bridget Franek and Shalaya Kipp were 2-3, but Ashley Higginson went by Sara Hall to move into 4th and was surging to catch the other two.

Coburn basically jogged a 9:32.74 and it was Franek and Kipp for the other two spots. Ashley Higginson ran an amazing race as she finished 4th and at this point should be a contender for future championship teams. She ran a 9:38, which is 5 seconds under the A standard, so props to Ashley Higginson and the NJ/NY Track Club.

Delilah DiCrescenzo finished 7th and Sara Hall fell back to 8th. Coburn and Franek qualifying means University of Colorado is represented by two athletes in the steeplechase. Also, this event is clearly the most attractive field of all women's events.

Results (usatf.org)

1 Emma Coburn Colorado 9:32.78

2 Bridget Franek Nike / Oregon TC Elite 9:35.62

3 Shalaya Kipp Colorado 9:35.73

4 Ashley Higginson Saucony 9:38.06
5 Lisa Aguilera Nike 9:41.95
6 Carrie Dimoff Bowerman Athletic Club 9:45.01
7 Delilah DiCrescenzo Puma / NJNYTC 9:46.30
8 Sara Hall Asics 9:47.63
9 Stephanie Garcia New Balance 9:50.74
10 Sarah Pease Unattached 9:53.62
11 Mason Cathey Saucony 9:54.07
12 Jamie Cheever Oiselle / Team USA Minnesota 9:56.51
13 Rebeka Stowe Kansas 10:02.82
14 Rebecca Wade Rice University 10:10.50

Olympic Trials: Steeplechase Semifinals

Women's Steeplechase:

Heat 1: Emma Coburn is just faster than everyone else right now. She cruised to the win in 9:43, 3 seconds ahead of 2nd place, Shaylaa Kipp. Delilah DiCrescenzo of Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah" fame was fast enough to move on as well.

Heat 2: Bridget Frank won just ahead of Sara Hall. Ashley Higginson, who runs for Saucony and of course represents NJ/NY Track Club (and Monmouth County!) was 3rd and moves onto the finals.

Qualifiers

1 Emma Coburn Colorado 9:43.19
2 Bridget Franek Nike / Oregon TC Elite 9:44.05
3 Sara Hall Asics 9:44.55
4 Ashley Higginson Saucony 9:45.21
5 Shalaya Kipp Colorado 9:46.17
6 Mason Cathey Saucony 9:47.32
7 Stephanie Garcia New Balance 9:48.17
8 Carrie Dimoff Bowerman Athletic Club 9:49.03
 9 Delilah DiCrescenzo Puma / New Jersey New York T C 9:49.15
10 Rebecca Wade Rice University 9:50.66
11 Lisa Aguilera Nike 9:51.02
12 Jamie Cheever Oiselle / Team USA Minnesota 9:51.42
13 Sarah Pease Unattached 9:52.43
14 Rebeka Stowe Kansas 9:53.67

Men's Steeplechase:

Heat 1: The top 5 were separated by just half a second, as NCAA Champ Donn Cabral of Princeton finished just behind Evan Jager. 3rd went to Craig Forys of Michigan (and also a NJ native).

Heat 2: Ever-so-slightly faster than heat 1, but packed almost as tight as the top 5 finishers were within a second of each other. Dan Huling, who ran with Brian Godsey at Miami (of Ohio), won the heat ahead of Ben Bruce and Kyle Alcorn.

Steve Slattery, a former NJ Meet of Champs winner, was a non-qualifier.

Qualifiers

1 Daniel Huling Reebok 8:29.00
2 Benjamin Bruce adidas/McMillan Elite 8:29.11
 3 Kyle Alcorn Nike 8:29.27
4 Augustus Maiyo Unattached 8:29.29
5 Brian Olinger Reebok 8:30.08
6 Evan Jager Nike / Oregon TC Elite 8:30.60
7 Donald Cabral Princeton 8:30.64
8 Craig Forys Unattached 8:30.85
9 Cory Leslie Ohio State 8:31.08
10 Joshua McAdams New Balance 8:31.15
11 Donald Cowart Ragged Mountain Racing 8:31.51
12 David Adams Team Nebraska 8:32.17
13 Max King Central Oregon Running Klub 8:33.43
14 William Nelson New Balance 8:35.22