Coburn secures seventh 3,000 steeplechase title, Harrison repeats in 100 hurdles and Wimbley wins first 400 crown

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

DES MOINES – The Prefontaine Classic turned out to only be a preview of what was to come for Shelby Houlihan.

In one of the most anticipated races ever at Drake Stadium, Houlihan and Jenny Simpson – two athletes with Iowa roots – were part of a dramatic stretch run Saturday in the women’s 1,500-meter final at the USATF Outdoor Championships.

And just like she did May 26 at Hayward Field, Houlihan found another gear when it mattered most, surging ahead of four-time champion Simpson in the final 80 meters to prevail in 4 minutes, 5.48 seconds to capture her first 1,500 national championship after winning the 5,000 in Sacramento last year.

USATF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE TV AND WEBCAST INFO

“To come out and win in front of all my family and friends and a bunch of Iowa people who are definitely fans, and you could hear them when we were on the line, that was really cool,” said Houlihan, a Sioux City native.

“To win it in front of them made it a lot more special.”

Houlihan prevailed by a 3:59.06 to 3:59.37 margin over Simpson in the Prefontaine Classic, but the rematch was more decisive. Simpson, who clocked 4:06.21, lost a race for only the second time in her career on Jim Duncan Track, having won eight in a row since a third-place finish in the 5,000 at the USATF Outdoor Championships in 2010.

“Over the last 800, I was like, ‘You’ve just got to pull even and then hopefully have a little kick that last 50,’ and I was just hoping she wouldn’t be able to respond to that,” Houlihan said. “I never felt like I really had it because I know she’s a fighter and I knew she was probably right behind me, so I just tried to hold on.”

Emma Coburn also had to hold on and prevail for her seventh career 3,000-meter steeplechase title, despite a serious challenge from Courtney Frerichs.

The reigning IAAF World champion and silver medalist battled throughout, with Coburn having enough left over the last water jump and final barrier to extend her legacy with a facility record of 9:17.70. Frerichs was also well under the 2008 stadium standard of 9:29.20 produced by Jenny Simpson, clocking 9:18.69.

“They’re all hard in a different way,” said Coburn, who has won every steeplechase national final she’s entered, missing the championship in 2013.

“I’ve had races that I kind of ran hard from the gun. Last year physically was a harder race for me because I ran hard from the gun and I had food poisoning at the time and it was very hot, but I don’t think I’ve ever closed that fast (as Saturday) to win a title. It was a different experience (Saturday) and it was tough, but I think that kind of racing is an important skill to practice.”

Keni Harrison always valued the opportunity to race against Dawn Harper-Nelson as a measuring stick throughout her career development.

Harrison repeated as 100-meter hurdles champion in a wind-legal 12.46 seconds in her last national finals showdown with Harper-Nelson, who placed fifth in 12.93. Harper-Nelson announced her retirement at the end of the 2018 season.

“I love running against Dawn. She was one of the hurdlers that I looked up to. She’s always so bubbly and such a strong competitor. It’s sad to see her go, but just seeing her career, I definitely want to have what she has, which is an Olympic gold medal. She’s still someone I look up to,” said Harrison, who became the first athlete to win back-to-back titles since Harper-Nelson in 2014-15.

“I’m just glad to come out and do what I want to do and it just builds my confidence, that’s number one. To come into a national championship with a target on my back and reclaim that title, it definitely says that I’m mentally stronger than I was in the past.”

Shakima Wimbley captured her first 400-meter national title in a facility record and world-leading 49.52, the fastest time at Jim Duncan Track since Debbie Dunn captured the 2010 championship in 49.64.

Wimbley, an NCAA Division 1 champion at Miami (Florida), has benefited in her first professional season from training in Clermont, Fla., with Bahamian star Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

“I’m actually shocked (about the time),” Wimbley said. “I just kind of shut my mind off and kept repeating to myself what my coach told me to do, ‘Get out, stay in it and bring it home.’ That’s kind of just what happened during the race. I was in good position and I felt good, so let me just finish it.”

Erica Bougard took the first-day lead in the heptathlon with 3,866 points.

Georganne Moline led all qualifiers into the 400 hurdles final by clocking 54.64.