Courtney Frerichs

Courtney Frerichs
Frerichs at the 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Personal information
Born (1993-01-18) January 18, 1993 (age 31)
Mundelein, Illinois, U.S.
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight117 lb (53 kg)
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event3000 metres steeplechase
College teamMissouri–KC Kangaroos
New Mexico Lobos
ClubNike
Bowerman Track Club
Turned pro2016
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals
  • 2016 Rio de Janeiro
  • 3000 m s’chase - 11th
  • 2020 Tokyo
  • 3000 m s’chase -  Silver
World finals
  • 2017 London
  • 3000 m s’chase -  Silver
  • 2019 Doha
  • 3000 m s’chase - 7th
Personal bests
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo 3000 m s’chase
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2017 London 3000 m s’chase
Representing the Americas
IAAF Continental Cup
Silver medal – second place 2018 Ostrava 3000 m s’chase

Courtney Frerichs (born January 18, 1993) is an American middle-distance runner and steeplechase[2] specialist from Nixa, Missouri,[3] She is a three-time silver medalist in the 3000 meters steeplechase capturing silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the 2017 World Championships in London and at the 2018 World (Continental) Cup in Ostrava. In 2021, she became the first American woman to run under nine-minutes in a women’s 3000-meters steeplechase event with a time of 8:57.77; establishing an American and Area record. She is a two-time Olympian making the US team in 2016 and 2020. In both of her Olympic Trials she finished second to US National Champion, Emma Coburn.

Frerichs made history at the 2017 World Championships where she and her teammate, Emma Coburn, finished 1-2 in the 3000-meters women’s steeplechase, with Coburn taking home the gold and Frerichs the silver medal, thus becoming the first female Americans to win the gold and silver medal in any individual World Championships or Olympics race longer than 400 meters since the 1912 Stockholm Games.[4] In that race, they outran four of the five fastest women in the world which included the world record holder and 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Ruth Jebet, the defending champion and 2016 Olympic silver medalist, Hyvin Jepkemoi, the number one ranked runner in 2017, Beatrice Chepkoech, and Celliphine Chespol, second fastest in the world.

On July 20, 2018, at the Herculis meet in Monaco, she finished in second place behind Beatrice Chepkoech's world record 8:44.32 performance. Frerichs' time of 9:00.85 moved her ahead of Coburn for the American and North American (NACAC) records in the steeplechase and to 6th place on the all-time fastest list. Frerichs won the steeplechase NCAA title at the 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a Lobo, setting a collegiate record of 9:24.41.

Nixa High School

As a Senior at Nixa Public High School, Courtney Frerichs earned all-conference, all-district, team MVP, KSPR-TV Athlete of the Week in cross country. Frerichs posted a freshman season-best time of 2:24 in 800 meters. She also set school records in the 5K (18:12), triple jump 10.505 m (34 ft 5+1⁄2 in), and her team posted the best time for the 4x800-meter relay (10:02). Frerichs lettered for four years in soccer as a midfielder/forward where she earned All-district honors and was a two-time regional qualifier in gymnastics.[5][6] In 2010, she was a level 9 gymnast. Frerichs attributes her accomplishments to gymnastics, strength training, and her teammates.[7]

NCAA

Courtney Frerichs won the steeplechase national title at the 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a Lobo, setting a collegiate record of 9:24.41[8] As of July 2017, Frerichs has run 4 of the 10 fastest times in US collegian history. She finished her career with four of the top 10 steeplechase times in NCAA history between her time at New Mexico and UMKC, and was a semifinalist for the Bowerman Award. Frerichs earned seven NCAA Division I All-American honors competing in Cross Country, and Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field for the UMKC Kangaroos and the New Mexico Lobos. On grass in 2015, Frerichs captured her third All-American honor in cross country with a fourth-place finish of 19:48.0 at the NCAA Championships, leading the New Mexico Lobos to a dominant national championship victory.

Representing the University of Missouri–Kansas City
Year Conference cross country NCAA Cross Country Conference Indoor NCAA Indoor Conference Outdoor NCAA Outdoor USA Championships International
2011-12 Summit League - - 3000 10:02.06 4th
5000 17:33.79 10th		 - - 3000 SC 10:55.29 80th 3000 SC 10:35.23 2nd[9] 3000 SC 10:35.24 16th[10]
2012-13 Summit League - - 3000 9:51.26 1st
5000 17:02.31 1st		 - 3000 SC 10:15.79 1st
5000 16:42.63 1st		 3000 SC 9:55.02 6th
2013-14 WAC 2nd 17:35.7 38th 20:44.4 3000 9:35.89 1st
5000 17:45.89 1st;		 - - - 3000 SC 9:43.36 6th[11] 3000 SC 10:10.51 4th[12]
2014-15 WAC 1st 16:51.7 13th 20:17.1 3000 10:35.96 1st
5000 18:37.69 1st		 5000 15:47.56 5th 3000 SC 10:15.41 1st
5000 17:26.99 1st		 3000 SC 9:31.36 2nd 3000 SC 9:46.24 7th[13] -
Representing the University of New Mexico Lobos
2015-16 MWC 2nd 22:05.2 4th 19:47.9 - - 1500 4:25.77 2nd 3000 SC 9:24.41 1st 3000 SC 9:20.92 2nd[14] 3000 SC Olympic 9:22.87 11th[15]

[16] [17]

Early championship races

Courtney placed sixteenth in 2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 3000 metres steeplechase.

Frerichs finished 14th at 2012 Junior USA Cross Country Championships.[18]

Courtney Frerichs placed fourth 2014 NACAC U23 Steeplechase.

Professional

2016

Frerichs placed 11th at Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 3000 metres steeplechase running 9:22.87. Frerichs represented USA at Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[19]

2017

Courtney placed 4th at the 2017 USATF Cross Country Championships in Bend, Oregon.[20]

Frerichs placed 2nd in the steeplechase at 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships running 9:22.23, and commenting, "Having a positive mindset is huge":[21] Improving substantially, she placed 2nd at 2017 World Championships in Athletics running a then personal best of 9:03.77.[22]

2018

Courtney started her 2018 season with a 33:55.1, 4th place in 10 km at the 2018 USA Cross Country Championships. The finishing times for her teammates were Emily Infeld in 33:18.7 (3:19.9/km), Molly Seidel 33:22.1, Stephanie Bruce 33:34.1, Emily Durgin 33:56.9, and Susan Tanui 34:39.0. The six qualified for Team USA at 2018 NACAC Cross Country Championships in La Libertad, El Salvador on February 17, 2018. Frerichs was among leaders until the final lap. During the last 2 km, Courtney maintained a pace of approximately 3:23/km.[23]

Frerichs placed 2nd in the steeplechase at 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships running 9:18.69.

Frerichs set an American Record in the 3000 meter steeplechase, running 9:00.85, finishing in second place.

Frerichs was selected to represent Team Americas and placed 2nd in the steeplechase at 2018 IAAF Continental Cup running 9:15.22.

2019

Frerichs began her 2019 season with a 6th place in 10 km at the 2019 USA Cross Country Championships. On June 30, 2019, she ran 9:09.75 to place fifth behind world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech in the star-studded Diamond League steeple at the Prefontaine Classic held in Stanford, California.[24] In Des Moines, Iowa on July 28, running 9:26.61, Frerichs finished second at the 2019 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships, in the steeplechase to Emma Coburn, who ran 9:25.63 and who was the defending World Champion from 2017. Each qualified for the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar in September and Frerichs finished 6th in the 3000 M Steeplechase in a time of 9:11.27.[25]

2021

Frerichs placed second in steeplechase behind Emma Coburn at the 2020 US Olympic Trials to qualify to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She won the silver medal at the Olympics with a time of 9:04.79, finishing behind Peruth Chemutai and ahead of Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi.

Competition record

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  United States
2022 World Championships Eugene, United States 6th 3000 m SC 9:10.59
2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 2nd 3000 m SC 9:04.79
2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar 6th 3000 m SC 9:11.27
2018 2018 IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava, Czech Republic 2nd 3000 m SC 9:15.22
2017 World Championships London, United Kingdom 2nd 3000 m SC 9:03.77
2016 Summer Olympics Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 11th 3000 m SC 9:22.87
2014 NACAC U-23 Championships Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada 4th 3000 m SC 10:10.51
2012 World U-20 Championships Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain 16th 3000 m SC 10:35.24
USATF Championships
2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 3rd 3000 m SC 9:16.18
2021 United States Olympic trials Eugene, Oregon 2nd 3000 m SC 9:11.79
2020 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 5th 3000 m 8:57.15[26]
2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 2nd 3000 m SC 9:26.61
2019 USA Cross Country Championships Apalachee Regional Park,
Tallahassee, Florida 		6th 10 km 33:25
2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 2nd 3000 m SC 9:18.69
2018 USA Cross Country Championships Tallahassee, Florida 4th 10 km 33:55.1
2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sacramento, California 2nd 3000 m SC 9:22.23
2016 United States Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 2nd 3000 m SC 9:20.92
2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 7th 3000 m SC 9:46.24
2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sacramento, California 6th 3000 m SC 9:43.36
2012 IAAF World Championship U-20 Trials Bloomington, Indiana 2nd 3000 m SC 10:35.23
2012 USA Cross Country Championships St Louis, Missouri 14th 6 km 22:08.6

References

  1. ^ "Elise Cranny (14:48.02) and Sean McGorty (13:11.22) Lead Fast Times for Bowerman Track Club Intra-Squad Meet in Portland". July 2020.
  2. ^ "Courtney Frerichs IAAF profile". IAAF. July 7, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  3. ^ Missouri native and former UMKC athlete Courtney Frerichs chasing Olympic dream | The Kansas City Star Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  4. ^ Zaccardi, Nick (August 11, 2017). "Emma Coburn leads shocking U.S. steeplechase one-two (video) – OlympicTalk". Olympics.nbcsports.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  5. ^ "Courtney Frerichs University of New Mexico profile". New Mexico Lobos. July 7, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  6. ^ "Courtney Frerichs University of Missouri Kansas City profile". UMKC Kangaroos. July 7, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  7. ^ "Courtney Frerichs on Long-Term Success: Gymnastics, Strength Training, and Teammates". strengthrunning.com. October 7, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  8. ^ "2016 NCAA New Mexico results". Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). July 7, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  9. ^ "2012 USA Junior Championships - 6/15/2012 to 6/17/2012 Bloomington, Indiana Results". usatf.org. June 12, 2012. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  10. ^ "3000 METRES STEEPLECHASE WOMEN 14TH IAAF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS SPAIN BARCELONA (ESTADIO OLÍMPICO), SPAIN 10 JUL 2012 - 15 JUL 2012 Results". usatf.org. July 15, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  11. ^ "2014 USA Track & Field Championships - 6/25/2014 to 6/29/2014 Hornet Stadium - Sacramento, California Results". usatf.org. June 28, 2014. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  12. ^ "NACAC U-23 Championships August 8-10, 2014 Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada". usatf.org. August 10, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  13. ^ "USATF Championships - 6/25/2015 to 6/28/2015 Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore. Results". usatf.org. June 28, 2015. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  14. ^ "USATF Championships - 6/30/2016 to 7/10/2016 Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore. Results". usatf.org. July 8, 2016. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  15. ^ "2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil August 5-21, 2016". usatf.org. August 8, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  16. ^ UMKC Courtney Frerichs results
  17. ^ New Mexico Courtney Frerichs results
  18. ^ "2012 USA Cross Country Championships Results - Junior Women - 6k". USATF. February 11, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  19. ^ "2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field Women's steeplechase". usatf.org. July 7, 2016. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  20. ^ "2017 USATF National XC Championships February 4, 2017, River's Edge Golf Course, Bend, OR". usatf.org. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  21. ^ ""HAVE A POSITIVE MINDSET"". Spike Magazine. December 20, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  22. ^ "#19 – Bowerman Babes, Fruit Loop Luck, and Avocado Anthems: Courtney Frerichs Interview Special". Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat By Matt Wood. March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  23. ^ "2018 USATF Cross Country Championships" (PDF). usatf.org. February 3, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  24. ^ Results: Women 3000 M Steeplechase (Final),FlashResults.com, June 30, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  25. ^ Boise State alum Allie Ostrander takes 4th at USATF Championships, KTVB, Jay Tust, July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  26. ^ 2020 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships WOMEN'S 3000 METERS FINALS Results USATF.TV
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