Lobo Alum Frerichs Runs to Silver at World Championships
LONDON — University of New Mexico track & field alumna Courtney Frerichs earned a silver medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Friday at the IAAF World Championships in London, running to her first international medal in a record-setting time.
The 2016 NCAA champion in the event, Frerichs continued to make a name for herself in the international steeplechase scene, crossing the line at London Stadium in a personal-record time of 9 minutes, 3.77 seconds.
Along with gold medalist and fellow American Emma Coburn, Frerichs became one of the first two U.S. women to ever earn a medal in the event at the world championships.
“My coach [Jerry Schumacher of the Bowerman Track Club] told me ‘just go for it,'” Frerichs said of going for the lead on the bell lap. “He told me Emma races smart and I felt very comfortable following her. Her form is great and there was an extreme level of comfort.”
.@courtfrerichs8 with a STUNNING performance, winning ?? in 9:03.77!!!!!!! #7 all-time performer in women’s steeple! #TeamUSATF #IAAFWorlds pic.twitter.com/zqqDEvuhhc
— USATF (@usatf) August 11, 2017
Together, Frerichs, who runs professionally for the Bowerman Track Club, and Coburn posted the United State’s first 1-2 finish in an individual event longer than 400 meters since the men’s 800-meter run at the 1912 Olympics.
Friday’s steeplechase began uniquely enough with Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya — a favorite to medal in the event — nearly missing the first water jump. As the race progressed through one kilometer, world record holder and 2016 Olympic champion Ruth Jebet of Bahrain began to increase the pace, with Frerichs remaining in contention.
At the bell lap, Jebet fell off the lead, allowing Frerichs to move up on the outside and into second place.
Coburn finished with a new American record and World Championship record of 9:02.58, while Kenya’s Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi was third in 9:04.03.
Frerichs’ time of 9:03.77, which set a new personal best by 16 seconds, ranks her seventh all-time in women’s steeplechase.
Friday’s performance for Frerichs comes on the heels of some exceptionally productive running.
After coming to New Mexico in 2015, Frerichs helped the Lobos to the 2015 NCAA team championship in cross country before claiming the NCAA steeplechase record in 2016, as she won the event at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Subsequently, Frerichs placed second in the event at the 2016 US Olympic Team Trials before placing 11th in the finals of the event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
This year, Frerichs set a then-personal record of 9:19.09 in May before claiming runner-up honors in the event at the 2017 USATF Outdoor Championships to secure her spot in London.
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