Four Buffs Compete in Finals At USATF Olympic Trials

EUGENE – Four former Colorado track and field athletes competed in finals on the fourth day of the USATF 2020 Olympic Trials here Monday evening in the women's 1,500 and women's 5,000-meter runs.
 
Two former Buffs with four NCAA titles each took to the women's final in the 1,500 in Jenny Simpson and Dani Jones. The pair ended up finishing ninth and 10th overall with Jones finishing in 4:06.46 and Simpson finishing in 4:07.76 to finish out their seasons. Simpson worked through the pack in the first two laps to keep herself in contention, while Jones went out with a strong lead pack all the way to the bell lap.
 
This will be the first USATF Team USA that won't feature Simpson since she made the World Championship team in 2007 and made her way onto 10-straight teams after that. American-record holder in the mile Elle Purrier St. Pierre took the win in 3:58.03 after leading from the start, followed by Cory McGee and Heather MacLean.
 
Moving to the women's 5,000 finals, Carrie Verdon and Maddie Alm finished 10th and 12th, respectfully. Verdon ran 15:54.04 while Alm ran 15:58.40. Both women held onto the leaders until the 3,600-meter mark or close to a mile remaining when the leaders began to separate. Elise Cranny, a Colorado-native, won the race in 15:27.81 while Karissa Schweizer finished second and Rachel Schneider finished third.
 
Verdon will have another shot at Team USA in the women's 10,000 where she will race against former Buffs Laura Thweatt and Makena Morley.
 
Sunday marked the first round of the women's steeplechase and saw a pair of Buffs advance to finals. Emma Coburn had the top qualifying time in 9:21.32 after winning her heat, while Val Constien finished with the sixth-best mark in 9:28.37 to finish fourth in the first heat. Both women will run the final Thursday evening and both have great chances at a top-three finish. Coburn is the top-ranked American this season while Constien is ranked third this season. Heading into the Trials Constien was the fourth-best athlete based on personal best marks, but Colleen Quigley who was the third-ranked American on best times withdrew from competition before the prelims.
 
The Buffs also had Sara Vaughn in the race as she finished 18th in 9:51.12 as well as current Buff Madie Boreman who finished 21st in 9:56.63.
 
Colorado has athletes schedule to race on every day of the trials but will take the next two days off like the rest of the Trials for rest. Action resumes Thursday with Coburn and Constien in the finals of the steeplechase while Sage Hurta begins her first of three rounds in the 800 and Joe Klecker will possibly look to double up in Tokyo in the men's 5,000 alongside current Buff Eduardo Herrera.