Emma's greatness is underappreciated

Why the asterisk? If the steeple was so easy, we’d see a lot more people do it. Not everyone has the athleticism for it. Why doesn’t Drew Hunter give it a try?

Ajee Wilson > Emma.

Sorry but she's not world class. She lucked out by running in an event others do not. East Africans just starting to run and show that she is 15-20 seconds behind. Good for her on capitalizing on this but the competition is not stiff. If anyone worth their salt, Jenny, Ellie, etc. kept running she would be mid pack. When an event has only 2-3 US competitors each year, it is not dominance. Her 1500 and 5K times are mid pack.

If Courtney Frerichs medal again in the world championship (And if Emma missed the podium), I would still think Frerichs had a more successful year.
But some of you would say, but Emma beats her head to head ... blah-blah .... Let me say it Again, "most runners don't peak for National championship !!!!!!!! "
Note: Just a reminder, Courtney Frerichs ran the trials with a RIPPED shoe; And she still makes the team by running 9:16.

there is some truth to this, but it is not an event that all fast runners can find success with

It's hilarious that people on this board don't seem to know this comment, and clearly don't recognize it as a compliment.
I first heard this in college, in 1993ish, from a teammate.

What does Ajee have to do this?? Has she ever run the steeple?

How do you explain Emma running 10 seconds faster in the steeple than Jenny ever did, even though Jenny focused on that event for over 4 years, and didn’t give it up until 2 years after she ran 3:59 in the 1500?

Also, you exaggerate the difference between the East Africans and Emma. Only one woman (outlier) has run more than 10 seconds faster than Emma.

2thegillz

I hope you also think 100/400 hurdles are asterisk worthy titles. Might as well think the open 400 is also asterisk worthy since real runners run the 100/200.

Just because you are good at something specialized doesn’t make it less impressive. There aren’t any easy events to win world or Olympic medals in.

I can’t think of a Steeplechase runner that gets more exposure than Coburn. She has a huge IG following, a cookbook, a 5K run and plenty of exposure for her world championship. Her looks certainly don’t hurt.

I think most casual track fans don’t care as much about the hurdles or steeple. I think we will see McLaughlin move to the open 400M for that reason.

I’m not the guy you are responding to, but the 100/400 hurdles should absolutely not be looked at the same way as the flat 100 or 400.

It does make it less impressive to win an event that 95% of track athletes never do. Events like the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 5000 are equalizers. Everyone in track is going to gravitate towards one of those events, and it is those events that determine where you stand among the whole landscape of athletes.

It is easier to win world or Olympic medals in events with barriers than in events that don’t have barriers.

such an annoying argument. If steeple is so weak, why aren't others just doing it to make the team? answer: they don't have the talent.

Far less people do the pole vault. According to you that must be an easy event to medal in also. If they were any good they would win the 100 instead…

Such a weak argument, usually made by someone that has never ran a barrier race.

I'd drink her bath water!
An expression used to signify the extreme hotness of a female.
dude#1:"Did you see Jessica Alba yesterday on the MTV Music Video Awards? She's so hot! I'd love to hit that!"
dude#2:"Hell ya! I'd drink her bath water!!!"

nothing is easy, but steeple isn't as deep as the flat events. and forget about pole vault. that is an apples/oranges argument. it is such a ridiculously specialized event.

Schweizer is a fine runner and has some good years ahead of her, but don't take anything away from Emma (who has a world championship). One of Emma's attributes that makes her a great steeple runner is her height (She's 5'8"). That's one thing you can't coach. Do you think Sydney McLaughlin's 400H titles are less impressive as well? You should try running the steeple if you think it is that easy and non-competitive. Hurdling is not as simple as you make it out to be.

I feel like bringing in Jager helps make the case that the steeple isn't weak. He ran 13:02 in 2013 (#8 in the US all time at the time), and 3:32 in 2015 (#11 all time in the US at the time). He was running world class times in his off events. Coburn has dominated the steeple domestically for over a decade now. If she wasn't the best, she'd have been beaten by now.

Oh barbie doll has thoughts. 'member when she didn't congratulate her u.s. teammate. the other runners know she's a prima donna.

Thank you. This was my point. There’s more competition in non hurdle events

Obviously steeple is less competitive than flat events. but that doesn’t take away from the fact that for 10 US champs Emma has shown up on the day and won every one.
Its not like she was soloing them ,no she had competition

so to undermine her achievements is foolish.