Frerichs Sets US Record in 3,000 Steeplechase in Monaco

MONACO — In a race that featured six of the top eight women’s steeplechase runners in the history of the event, former Lobo Courtney Frerichs nearly became the first American to break the 9-minute mark, besting Emma Coburn’s American record with a time of 9:00.85, finishing second in the race.
 
The 3000-meter steeplechase was a part of the Diamond League in Monaco on Friday, July 20.  The only racer to best Frerichs, who finished second, was Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya, who obliterated the former World Record time of 8:52.78, coming in at 8:44.32.
 
For Frerichs, she shaved off nearly two seconds off the American record that Coburn had set, which was 9:02.58.  The 2016 national titlist in the steeple, Frerichs bested her PR which entering the race was 9:03.77.  Frerichs is now officially the sixth-fastest woman in the steeplechase in history.
 
Overall, the field was loaded and it showed, with seven women breaking 9:10 on the day, when no race in the history of the steeple had seen more than four accomplish that feat.