Is Emma Coburn's steeple career coming to an end?

She may have a good season but looks as if her focus isn't there. She stumbles over hurdles and just seems to run without a lot of effort. With no injuries her performance is what she's willing to put into it.

She hypocritically threw shade on her competitors, claimed, without evidence, that Beatrice Chepkoech is dirty and even outed an Ethiopian rival for being (allegedly) DSD.

She will be missed ... by yanks.

Pure speculation but it looks like she's very fit but pressures herself very much that she gets close to her PR in the steeple.

In the light of her very good 1500 I wouldn't be surprised if she rocks at USA's, as there not only time counts, what could be a little bit "relaxing" after chasing times this spring and runs at least ok at worlds + sets a good mark at worlds or after, close to 9:00.

With a 4:05 I can see her very well at ~8:35 3k and ~9:00 steeple if she gets into a smooth rhythm the next weeks.

And I speak from experience. I really struggled after my PR in the 5k (loooong ago) as I hated running slower and bc I "felt better", so ran that season too aggressive, to stressed. Needless to say I got screwed at nationals that year, finished dfl after leading at 3k and... sigh... after that head to the wall running was over took a couple easy days and ran close to my PR in the 5k in Heusden, going out quite chill up to 3k and PRed in the 1500, 3k and 10k although I felt over the hill that season.

The psychological factor really is important. Hope she gets back on a roll :)

Pikachu

Stop. If you lose a parent, you back at full strength at your job in a month. The statute of limitations on mom's death as an excuse has run out.

Wayment sub-9 by Budapest? I want some of what you're smoking.

Quigley just interviewed that she will be competing in the Steeple at USA's and is planning to leave the sport after 2024. I assume that means she will try to make the Oly steeple team as well for one last hurrah.

Does she make the team this year?

You’re expected to be back after a month bc you’re plebe with a plebe job. But even then, you’re not psychologically (and in the case of someone who has a job like Emma’s - physically) fully recovered by then. Anyway who has suffered the loss of a parent or spouse knows this.

She also has a very tight-knit family.

I’m sure Emma would be the last person to make excuses, but she’s been through a lot.

“Last person to make excuses” but first person to suspect those who run faster than she does.
is it just my imagination, or does it seem like she doesn’t get along well with her competitors? Not a lot of post-race hugs for ol’ Emma.

Making the US team does not indicate much. She can continue making the teams for the next two Worlds and Paris but she is it longer in the front pack. The Africans blast out from the gun and she loses connection within the first lap and a half. No competition nationally. The 4:05 is not going to do much for her internationally.

I think yes with Val out. Coburn, Wayment and Quigley. Anyone else close I’m not thinking about?

Oh sorry Freichs… zero idea as to her status and fitness, hasn’t raced?

Can Quigley drop about 16 seconds in the steeple in 6 weeks? Guessing third place will be 9:16 or faster. I see Emma and Wayment in 9:12-9:14.

LetsRun message board posters can throw around doping or DSD accusations, but no one else can discuss it? Make it make sense.

I don’t really notice if she gets along with her competitors or not. It’s not a sorority.

Krissy Gear, if she can get her time down.

She ran 3000 of 5000 at the LA Grand meet last week, 9:08 and dropped at the same time Schweizer did. Figure it was planned, but buho knows what kind of shape they are in but none of them (Cranny as well, fading over the final laps for the 5) looked strong out there.

I really don't like to make excuses but the sickness and death of her mom seems to have really affected her. It's normal to struggle mentally and physically due to that.

She always looks super lean and in "shape" and from the outside it looks like she always trains incredibly hard. After the death of her mom, running might have become even more an outlet for her than usual to deal with the grief. Even in her fading in Tokyo she mentioned how she simply did not have the energy that day and it sounded very much like being overcooked.

Most people are in their best distance track shape in their age 25-28 range. If someone had a lot of injuries during those years then their 'peak' might be able to be at age 30, but that's just because of some setbacks preventing their best performances a few years earlier. Jager and Coburn are similar ages and seemed to be firing on all cylinders in their mid 20's and not experiencing those setbacks. Jager's PR is 8 years ago when he was about 26. Coburn's best races were around 2017-2019 around age 26/27/28.

Maddy Boreman might have a shot. She ran 9:22.99 at LA Grand Prix.

Gear could have a chance also, but it seems like she may focus on the the 1500m.

Perhaps. Father Time has caught up with her.