Emma Coburn celebrates with her mother Annie Coburn at U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field on June 24, 2021 in Eugene, Ore.
EUGENE, Oregon — On an evening when the precarious nature of the steeplechase was on full display, Emma Coburn demonstrated remarkable consistency. Using a strong finish to run away from the field in the 3000-meter event, Coburn won the U.S. Olympic Trials — Track & Field for the third straight time. It was also her ninth overall national time, and sixth consecutive.
The bronze medalist in Rio five years ago, Coburn broke her own meet record to qualify for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. She will be joined on Team USA by American-record holder Courtney Frerichs and Val Constien.
As with most of her national titles, Coburn won in commanding fashion, taking the lead with about 700 meters to go and pulling away from Frerichs for the fourth-straight time at an Olympic trials or national championships dating back to 2016. (There was no national championship meet last year due to the pandemic.)
The 2017 world champion, Coburn broke her own meet record to win in 9 minutes, 9.41 seconds. Frerichs (9:11.79) was a clear second, while Constien (9:18.34) moved up well on the final lap to grab the final spot. Constien is now the fifth fastest American of all time. (Frerichs’ American record is 9:00.85; Coburn’s personal best is 9:02.35.)
“I wanted to stay as chill as I could for the first half,” said Coburn, who is coached by her husband, Joe Bosshard,…
