Nixa’s Courtney Frerichs had the race of her life in the 3000-meter steeeplchase final at the World Championships to finish second overall to fellow American Emma Coburn.
Frerichs ran a personal best of 9:03.77. Coburn became the first American woman to win a steeplechase title in a time of 9:02.58.
That time is the 16th fastest steeplechase ever run by a woman making her the seventh fastest woman in the event ever.
The reigning Olympic gold medalist Ruth Jebet finished fifth overall.
The early pace was a grueling one by the Kenyans, but Frerichs and Coburn hung on behind the front-running trio before taking over in the final lap. Frerichs led for some of the final lap and was able to hold of the Kenya’s Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi at the line. The Kenyan runner was the silver medalist at last year’s Olympics in Rio.
Frerichs finished 11th in the steeplechase finals last year in a time of 9:22.87.
