Just wanted to note a couple great early season performances by Buff alums in today's Shanghai Diamond League (the top track and field series in the world!) meet:
1) Emma Coburn won the steeplechase (an extremely rare feat for a U.S. athlete at this level) with an ~4 second personal record (PR) of 9:19.80. Notes:
A) I believe this was her 1st steeplechase race since she won the NCAA championship last June, as she has been injured (I believe bad back) and was recovering after that in 2013. (I believe she has only run a couple 1500 meter races so far this year.)
B) Among others, she defeated all three World Championship medalists from last year to win this race.
C) There's some thought in the running community that the other runners may have thought she was a race "rabbit", as they let her get away with the official rabbit so she had a good size lead when the official rabbit stopped after 1000 meters. After that, Ms. Coburn then increased the lead to a large (for track) 12 seconds at both 2000 and at the start of the gun lap. The field closed a little, but she still ended with a comfortable 6 second win.
D) In addition to being her PR, Ms. Coburn’s 9:19.80 was the fastest time in the world this year as well as the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] fastest time ever by an American women, only behind fellow CU Grad Jenny Simpson’s 9:12.50. (Ms. Simpson set her record while still a Buff back in 2009.)
2) Jenny Simpson (Barringer while a Buff) also ran VERY well, getting 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] place in the 1500 meter run with a 4:00.42 time, her second fastest time ever, again very impressive, especially since it’s early in the Diamond League season. (Her fastest time is 3:59.98, and like her steeplechase time is from her time as a Buff in 2009.) She lost to her nemesis and defending World champion Abeba Aregawi of Sweden (via Ethiopia), who ran a world’s best 2014 time of 3:58.72. (As reference, it looks like the American record for this event of 3:57.12 is an old one from 1983 held by ANOTHER former Buff, Mary Decker Slaney.)
Also a positive for Buff fans is that both these young women are coached by current CU Buff coaches Mark Wetmore and, I assume, Heather Burroughs, so I believe these kind of performances should, among other things, help with future recruiting.
Go Buffs (Past and Present)!!!
For those, interested, highlight video for Ms. Coburn's race is at http://universalsports.com/video/2014-diamond-league-shanghai-coburn-surprise-steeplechase-win/ and Mrs. Simpson's at http://universalsports.com/video/2014-diamond-league-shanghai-aregawi-wins-1500m/ . (There is an ~20 second ad before each highlight.)
1) Emma Coburn won the steeplechase (an extremely rare feat for a U.S. athlete at this level) with an ~4 second personal record (PR) of 9:19.80. Notes:
A) I believe this was her 1st steeplechase race since she won the NCAA championship last June, as she has been injured (I believe bad back) and was recovering after that in 2013. (I believe she has only run a couple 1500 meter races so far this year.)
B) Among others, she defeated all three World Championship medalists from last year to win this race.
C) There's some thought in the running community that the other runners may have thought she was a race "rabbit", as they let her get away with the official rabbit so she had a good size lead when the official rabbit stopped after 1000 meters. After that, Ms. Coburn then increased the lead to a large (for track) 12 seconds at both 2000 and at the start of the gun lap. The field closed a little, but she still ended with a comfortable 6 second win.
D) In addition to being her PR, Ms. Coburn’s 9:19.80 was the fastest time in the world this year as well as the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] fastest time ever by an American women, only behind fellow CU Grad Jenny Simpson’s 9:12.50. (Ms. Simpson set her record while still a Buff back in 2009.)
2) Jenny Simpson (Barringer while a Buff) also ran VERY well, getting 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] place in the 1500 meter run with a 4:00.42 time, her second fastest time ever, again very impressive, especially since it’s early in the Diamond League season. (Her fastest time is 3:59.98, and like her steeplechase time is from her time as a Buff in 2009.) She lost to her nemesis and defending World champion Abeba Aregawi of Sweden (via Ethiopia), who ran a world’s best 2014 time of 3:58.72. (As reference, it looks like the American record for this event of 3:57.12 is an old one from 1983 held by ANOTHER former Buff, Mary Decker Slaney.)
Also a positive for Buff fans is that both these young women are coached by current CU Buff coaches Mark Wetmore and, I assume, Heather Burroughs, so I believe these kind of performances should, among other things, help with future recruiting.
Go Buffs (Past and Present)!!!
For those, interested, highlight video for Ms. Coburn's race is at http://universalsports.com/video/2014-diamond-league-shanghai-coburn-surprise-steeplechase-win/ and Mrs. Simpson's at http://universalsports.com/video/2014-diamond-league-shanghai-aregawi-wins-1500m/ . (There is an ~20 second ad before each highlight.)
