Battles in the heat on the fourth day of the Olympic Trials
Elle Purrier St. Pierre takes her victory lap around Hayward Field after lowering the meet record to 3:58.03. Photo by Jay Bendlin
By Caela Fenton and Kate Walkup
EUGENE, Ore. – The fourth day of the 2020 Track and Field Olympic Trials was a big one at Hayward Field, with six finals contested.
The men’s 3,000m steeplechase was the only preliminary round on deck in a day packed with finals. Isaac Updike (8:21.01) and Hillary Bor (8:21.09) crossed the finish line together to take first and second in the first heat.
Despite gesturing to each other that they could ease across the line, Updike and Bor led what was the fastest steeplechase prelim in U.S. Olympic Trials history. Benard Keter won the second heat in 8:29.04.
Eugene native and University of Oregon athlete Jackson Mestler advances to the final in the steeplechase, after getting the Olympic Trials standard only last week.
The women’s 1,500m final saw a deep field battle it out. Elle Purrier St. Pierre won, followed by Cory McGee and Heather MacLean. Purrier St. Pierre ran a personal record and meet record, lowering Mary Slaney’s 3:58.92 by running 3:58.03. McGee also ran a personal record of 4:00.67. MacLean ran a personal record as well and achieved her Olympic standard during the race, running 4:02.09
An emotional Purrier St. Pierre said that having her training partner and close friend MacLean (who was in her wedding party) make the team with her makes the experience extra special.
“Training with her has been great for both of us, we’ve made each other better and have supported each other through this,” Purrier St. Pierre said. “I didn’t know what had happened until I turned around, but when I saw her name, I was just so happy. We get to do this together!
Purrier St. Pierre also said that getting shoved in the first 50m of the race motivated her to take the lead. “I wanted to get out of the mess,” she explained. “I was just like, screw it, I’m going for it!”
Clayton Murphy defends his Olympic Trials 800m title, running a world-leading 1:43.17. Photo by Otto Horiuchi
In the men’s 800m, Clayton Murphy was crowned Trials champion, followed by Isaiah Jewett and Bryce Hoppel. Murphy ran his way to a world-lead time and Hayward Field record with his negatively split 1:43.17.
“I’m super excited to see what I can do over the next six weeks and to actually train like an 800-meter runner,” Murphy said about his training plan leading into Tokyo.
In the men’s pole vault final, Chris Nielsen was crowned Trials champion, clearing 5.90m. KC Lightfoot and Sam Kendricks tied for second, clearing 5.85m.
Chris Nielsen (Center), Sam Kendricks (Right), and KC Lightfoot (Left) are your men’s pole vault Olympic Team. Photo by Adam Eberhardt
Curtis Thompson topped the podium In the men’s javelin, throwing a season best of 82.78m. Michael Shuey (79.24) and Riley Dolezal (77.07) took second and third.
Thompson threw a season’s best, but as of yet does not have the Olympic standard (85m). Thompson says his level of optimism is high that he, Shuey and Dolezal will get the call to go to Tokyo. “I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and hope for the best,” Thompson says, “I hope the three of us qualify and represent the US the best we can.”
Will Claye (17.21m), Donald Scott (17.18m) and Chris Benard (17.01m) came out on top in the men’s triple jump.
In the final event of the day, 15 runners fought tough weather conditions, racing in 91 degree heat. Elise Cranny recorded a season best of 15:27.81 to take the win, and Karissa Schweizer (15:28.11) and Rachel Schneider (15:29.56) placed second and third to round out the podium.
Cranny said post-race that it was pre-planned that she and Schweizer would share leading duties throughout the race. “It was great to be there with Karissa, and also have Gwen [Jorgensen] and Vanessa [Fraser] in the race as well,” Cranny said. “It just makes it feel like practice and feeding off of each other’s team energy.”