Coburn, Simpson Win Historic Bronze Medals
In an early Monday race in Rio Aug. 15, Emma Coburn (Mktg'13) won the bronze medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She is the first American woman to medal in the event, finishing in 9 minutes, 7.63 seconds, a new American record. Coburn, 25, broke her previous American record of 9:10.76.
Ruth Jabet of Bahrain won gold in the Olympic race with a time of 8:59.75. Kenyan Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi took the silver in 9:07.12.
On Tuesday evening, Jenny Simpson (Econ, PolSci’09) became the first U.S. woman to medal in the 1,500-meter race. Simpson, 29, took bronze with a time of 4:10.53. Just a few strides ahead of her was Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon from Kenya, who won gold with a time of 4:8.92 and Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia who took silver in 4:10.27.
Prior to her journey to Brazil, Coburn, a native of Crested Butte, Colo., to discuss her steeplechase career.