WALNUT CREEK, Calif. –University of Colorado senior Emma Coburn has been named the Pac-12 Conference Female Track Athlete of the Week after clocking the best 3,000-meter steeplechase time in the world this season.

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Coburn won the steeplechase at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational on Saturday night with a time of 9:28.26, just two days after running a 4:11.36 1,500 at Drake Relays…over 1,800 miles away. Coburn defeated Brooks’ Jamie Cheever by a narrow margin (9:29.13), but the two blew away the field with the third-place finisher, Weber State’s Amber Henry, finishing in 9:51.55. Prior to Coburn’s run, the top NCAA steeplechase time was 9:50.39, set by Cornell’s Rachel Sorna. Coburn’s 9:28.26 is also the third fastest time in NCAA history and made her the second best performer in the event.

 

The Crested Butte, Colo. native also did quite well in her 1,500, placing eighth overall. She was the only collegiate runner in a field that included the regaining IAAF 1,500-Meter World Champion and CU volunteer assistant coach Jenny Simpson (who won in 4:03), and other Olympians. Coburn’s time is fifth in the NCAA, but on Friday night it was the fastest in the NCAA.

 

Both times from the weekend are the best by a Pac-12 runner this season.

 

The Buffs are gearing up for the Pac-12 Conference Championships in Los Angeles. The combined events portion of the meet will be contested this weekend, May 4-5, and the rest of the meet will be the following weekend, May 11-12. USC is this year’s host.

 

CU press release

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– Colorado –