American track fans have become spoiled by the medal haul of Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs at Olympic Games and world championships over the past six years. Tonight, their podium streak came to an end, and for the first time since 2015, there were no American medalists in 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Norah Jeruto of Kazakhstan won in a championship record time of 8:53.02. Werkuha Getachew of Ethiopia was second in 8:54.61, and her countrywoman Mekides Abebe was third in 8:56.08.
“At the starting line, I was afraid of my friends from Ethiopia. They are also champions like me so I was scared of them,” said Jeruto after the race. “I tried my best to win the race and it was not easy, it was tough... I like to control the race and to be in the front to make sure I can fight for medals.”
For the U.S. entrants, Frerichs was sixth in 9:10.59, Coburn was eighth in 9:16.49, and Courtney Wayment was 12th in 9:22.37.
Coburn, the U.S. champion, said she didn’t want to play it safe.
“I wanted to commit and run for a medal and in doing so, got out a little over my head for fitness,” Coburn said. “I thought I was fit enough to cruise through 2K at 6 minutes, that’s what I’ve done in years past. I guess I’m just missing that a little bit this year. It’s disappointing. Maybe had I run more conservative early, I could have finished fifth and run 9:07 or something, but yeah, I went for it, and it didn’t pay off.”
The 31-year-old was mystified that she didn’t have more in her, as she said her training this year was the best she’s ever done.
Frerichs, 29, backed off the hot pace early—the leaders went through the first kilometer in 2:57. She ended up passing Coburn on the last lap.
“I wanted to go with it at the beginning, and I did that first lap,” Frerichs said. “I think that little bit of a slow start to my season probably caught up with me in the first half [she learned she had Celiac disease and low iron], and maybe I let them go a little bit too much given like how much I had at the end. But I'm proud of the effort. I've been gaining a lot of momentum.”
Both Frerichs and Coburn plan to race Diamond League meets in August, starting with a meet in Monaco on August 10.
These are the Coolest Uniforms at Worlds.
We’d be dancing as well if we just won gold in the 400 hurdles
Brazil’s Alison dos Santos had one of the best performances of the week in the 400-meter hurdles on Tuesday night, winning gold over American Rai Benjamin and defending champ Karsten Warholm. On Wednesday, he got down with the Worlds mascot, Legend the Bigfoot.
It’s a hot one!
Temperatures in Eugene, Oregon, hit 90 degrees on Wednesday as the women took to the track for the opening round of the 5,000 meters. That didn’t slow the times, however. The top five from each of two heats automatically advanced to the final, and the next five fastest also advanced. Karissa Schweizer and Elise Cranny Results: 2023 World Athletics Championships Emily Infeld was the final entrant to the final on time—running 15:00.98. Weather is supposed to be milder on Thursday, with a forecast high of 83.
Infeld had a mask on as she passed through the mixed zone, one of the only athletes to be masked during this championships. She said she picked up COVID during the U.S. championships and missed four days of training, and then ran easily for several additional days. She got in only two hard workouts between USAs and the world meet.
U.S. 800-meter men fumble the heats, fail to advance
For the first time at a global championship meet since the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, no U.S. men qualified for the semifinals in the 800 meters.
Defending world champion Donavan Brazier fell back to sixth in his heat, missing out on a top three auto qualifier, and his 1:46.72 was not fast enough to qualify on time. Brazier has been suffering from Haglund’s deformity, a painful bony bump on the heel.
“I have a surgery scheduled a week from now [to remove the bone],” Brazier said after his race. “Hopefully I’ll be able to come back next year. In the last month, I was training like I was in high school. It’s been fun, but a lot of ups and downs in the last few weeks.”
In the following heat, national champion Bryce Hoppel tangled with Brandon McBride of Canada, costing him precious energy in the first 200 meters. Hoppel crossed the finish line in fifth, out of the automatic qualifying positions. His time of 1:46.98 was too slow to be a time qualifier. Next, recent Texas A&M graduate Brandon Miller stuck his nose in his first senior global championships race, coming through 400 on the leader’s shoulder, but he faded in the final stretch.
Jonah Koech flipped the script of the previous three Americans, finishing in an auto-qualifying position. But to get there, he forced his way between two athletes before the final bend, disrupting both racers. Koech was subsequently disqualified.
The men’s 800 meters was the first track event of the weekend where no U.S. competitors qualified out of the heats.
Women’s 400-meter final won’t have any Americans, either
For the first time since 2003, no American women advanced to the final of the 400 meters. Talitha Diggs, coming off a long collegiate season, ran 50.84 to finish 10th. Lynna Irby was 12th in 51.00.
Now the guessing begins: Who will represent the U.S. in the 4 x 400-meter relay? Hurdlers Sydney McLaughlin and Dalilah Muhammad seem likely (both advanced in their event easily Wednesday night), along with 800-meter specialist Athing Mu. Who will be the fourth?
Stat to impress your friends
Excitement is building for the women’s 400-meter hurdles final.
The U.S. put four women into the final, to be raced on Friday. Sydney McLaughlin led all qualifiers with her time of 52.17. Dalilah Muhammad and Shamier Little were also auto-qualifiers, and Britton Wilson advanced on time.
In fact, McLaughlin’s semifinal time was faster than four of the times in the women’s open 400 meters on Wednesday night.
The photo of the night
—Running in the Cold.
Races - Places is a writer and editor living in Eugene, Oregon, and her stories about the sport, its trends, and fascinating individuals have appeared in Runner’s World ShaCarri Richardson Wins World 100-Meter Gold, Run Your Butt Off! and Walk Your Butt Off!
