Elle Purrier 1:59.99!!!! Becomes 3rd US women to break 2, 4 and 15.

I'm not at all suspicious of Purrier. Undertrained in college but still indoor mile champ. Her progression has been solid.

4:26 mile at BU in 2018 last year of college

4:24 indoor at NBIG 2019, which she followed up with a 4:02 outdoor 15000 in Rome. Rome was a strange race - it turned into a solo Dibaba v Muir 3:55 duel up dropping Tseguy, while a second race emerged with Simpson, GDS and Purrier who were caught in no man's land after the other went for it.

The three all finished within a second of each with Purrier 6th in 4:02. However both Simpson and Stafford would shortly break 4:00 that year. I don't think it's crazy to say Purrier could have gotten mighty close to 4:00 that year given the right race...

And in 2020 she gets it with Klosterhalfen providing a train at Millrose, setting up Purrier to kick by to 4:16... Which is equivalent to about a 3:57/3:58.

What did she run in Mt Sac? A 3:58. She did it solo yes, but she's also presumably developed since Jan 2020 too. I had to eat my words elsewhere as I said I didn't think Purrier could lead from the front and win, but hey ho sometimes you're wrong in this sport. Probably shows her to be in 3:56-3:55 shape if she can chase someone.

The big question is has she peaked too early/can she sustain this form for another ten weeks. Regardless, sub 2 (just) and a solo last 700 for 3:58 should definitely give pause to Houlihan.

As an aside - a journalist could probably make some hay with a Purrier-GDS comparison article. Every race I mentioned included those two going head to head with various very close outcomes. I think the score is currently 4-3 Purrier, but it's a great developing rivalry between two very closely matched athletes. If you discount Birmingham 2019, the average gap between them is probably under a second.

lonesome moon wrote:

I’m in no way claiming she is doping or on thyroid meds, but to say she has had no body transformation is either disingenuous or you’re blind.

VO2max work will do that.

Are her Steeple days over. 3rd NCAA & 28th OT in 2016.

LikeanaEmployee group is Emma only. Rest are insta crew.

All except Kate grace who is legit in her own right

Coogs Crew are about as genuine and as authentic as they come. Hard-working classy New Englanders who are focused on long-term development and above board approaches - which aligns well with New Balance as a brand - the Grit. They’re just responding so well to altitude training more and more over time.

Filing a SAR on Elle wrote:

Her improvement in the last year has been suspicious.

so haz yor meezly per4mance n bed u littl h8r,.......