RIO DE JANEIRO — Courtney Frerichs has qualified for the 3,000-meter Steeplechase Olympic Final on after taking third in her heat in Rio De Janeiro.
The Nixa, Mo. native clocked in with a time of 9:27.02 after making a push in the final laps. That gives her the 12th fastest time of the 18 finalists, which include both fellow Americans Emma Coburn and Colleen Quigley.
Frerichs took the lead late through the sixth lap and carried into the final trip around the track. Etenesh Diro of Ethopia led the early part of the race before she a fall caused her to lose her shoe. She finished the race with one foot bare, but the delay allowed Frerichs to pull ahead.
Quigley, a former Missouri High School State Track Champion, completed the race with a time of 9:21.82. Coburn, the reigning United States National Champion, finished with the third-lowest time at 9:18.2
Ruth Jebet of Bahrain led the field with a time of 9:12.62.
Frerichs qualified for the Olympics last month in Eugene, Ore. by taking second in her qualifying trial. She captured the NCAA National Championship with a record-breaking run in the steeplechase for the University of New Mexico in June.
The Olympic final will take place on Monday at 9:15 a.m. central time at Rio Olympic Stadium.
