Women’s Steeple Semis: All The Big Names Through
by LetsRun.com
June 27, 2014
SACRAMENTO, CA – No surprises in the heats of the women’s steeplechase as all the big names are through to the final (although 2012 Olympian Shalaya Kipp did get in on time) at the 2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Below are results and two quick interviews with Emma Coburn and Stephanie Garcia.
Heat 1:
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We spoke with Stephanie Garcia after the race and wanted to know more about her big 13-second PR at the adidas Grand Prix in New York two weeks ago. She said that she’s changed everything about her lifestyle and is really happy running with the Furman Elite track club in South Carolina, where her training partner is 2013 U.S. champ Nicole Bush. Garcia said that even though she’s been out of college — she went to Virginia — for a few years now, she hadn’t really been acting like a professional athlete until recently. Now she’s completely dedicated to running and the results have followed, with PRs in the mile, 3,000, 5,000 and steeplechase.
Results:
| Place | Athlete | Time | |
| 1 | Bridget FranekNike / Oregon TC Elite | 9:39.56 | Q |
| 2 | Aisha PraughtNike / Oregon TC Elite | 9:39.77 | Q |
| 3 | Nicole BushNew Balance | 9:40.22 | Q |
| 4 | Stephanie GarciaNew Balance | 9:40.27 | Q |
| 5 | Sara VaughnBrooks | 9:41.55 | q |
| 6 | Carmen GravesUnattached | 9:47.28 | q |
| 7 | Grace HeymsfieldArkansas | 9:48.34 | q |
| 8 | Jessica KamilosArkansas | 9:58.62 | |
| 9 | Liberty MillerWashington | 10:02.26 | |
| 10 | Megan RollandOiselle | 10:04.24 | |
| 11 | Addie BracyBrooks / HTS Elite | 10:08.01 | |
| 12 | Julia WebbBowerman Track Club | 10:16.94 | |
| 13 | KaraLyn DeWaltBay Area Track Club | 10:27.45 |
Heat 2:
We spoke with Emma Coburn after the heat which was faster than she had expected. She figured she’d stay in the pack and run 9:50, but Ashley Higginson took the pace out and so she went with her. She said the first 800 was actually faster than her first 800 at the Pre Classic. She said that the US women’s steeple is deeper than in the past with many running under 9:40 so while she has the fastest time she doesn’t want to be overconfident and takes this meet seriously. Asked about her training she said they are training with the end of the summer European meets in mind, but did still taper a bit for this.
Results:
| Place | Athlete | Time | |
| 1 | Emma CoburnNew Balance | 9:39.26 | Q |
| 2 | Ashley HigginsonSaucony | 9:40.26 | Q |
| 3 | Rachel JohnsonBaylor | 9:42.82 | Q |
| 4 | Courtney FrerichsUnattached | 9:43.07 | Q |
| 5 | Shalaya KippColorado | 9:44.41 | q |
| 6 | Alicia NelsonAdams St. | 9:48.91 | q |
| 7 | Sarah PeaseAdidas/RogueAC | 9:48.94 | q |
| 8 | Marisa HowardBoise St. | 9:51.05 | |
| 9 | Kimber MattoxUnattached | 9:51.29 | |
| 10 | Rebeka StoweNJNY TC | 9:53.18 | |
| 11 | Jordan HamricUnattached | 9:58.65 | |
| 12 | Mary GoldkampAdidas/RogueAC | 10:03.12 | |
| 13 | Maggie CallahanHTS Elite | 10:10.42 |