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| Coburn Takes Eighth At 104th Drake Relays Release: 04/26/2013 Courtesy: Linda Sprouse, Assistant SID | ||||||
| DES MOINES, Iowa – In a field of some of the nation’s top 1,500-meter runners, University of Colorado senior Emma Coburn raced to an eighth-place finish through stiff, windy conditions at the 104th Drake Relays on Friday night. Coburn finished the race in four minutes, 11.36 seconds, the fastest time by a collegiate athlete this year. The previous top time this season was 4:13.64 by Arizona State’s Shelby Houlihan. Coburn was just .05 seconds behind New Balance runner Sarah Bowman (4:11.31) and finished well ahead of Morgan Uceny (adidas), who placed 10th in 4:17.71. Coburn was the only NCAA runner in the field. Coburn’s time was just shy of her personal best (4:09.42), which she recorded last season while competing unattached. It also tied the fifth-fasted 1,500-meter time in CU history. The race was her first of the outdoor season and it will be a quick turnaround for Coburn as she is slated to race in her premiere event, the 3,000-meter steeplechase, on Sunday, April 28, at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, hosted by Stanford University. Former Buff Jenny (Barringer) Simpson, the reigning world champion in the 1,500, was also competing in the star-studded field and broke the Drake Relays and Drake Stadium record when she crossed the finish first in 4:03.35, four seconds in front of runner-up Sheila Reid (4:07.35). Simpson broke Suzy Favor Hamilton’s former Drake Relays record of 4:05.14 from 2000. Her mark is the top time in the world this young season. Drake Relays Drake Stadium (Des Moines, Iowa.) 1,500-Meters (London Games Rematch) 1. Jenny Simpson, New Balance, 4:03.35; 2. Sheila Reid, Nike, 4:07.35; 3. Kate Grace, U.S., 4:08.24; 4. Shannon Rowbury, Nike, 4:09.05; 5. Gabrielle Anderson, U.S., 4:10.32; 6. Mary Cain, U.S., 4:10.77; 7. Sarah Bowman, New Balance, 4:11.31; 8. Emma Coburn, Colorado, 4:11.36; 9. Morgan Uceny, adidas, 4:17.71; 10. Ashley Miller, Asics, 4:19.86; 11. Heather Kamph, Asics, 4:20.80; Renee Tomlin, U.S., DNF |
