Nike Bowerman Track Club teammates take top two spots in 5,000 in Houlihan’s absence, with Schneider also earning first Olympic berth; New Balance sweeps 1,500 podium, as McGee joins Boston-based training partners on American roster, with Simpson placing 10th to miss out on competing in fourth Games

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

On a day when many fans of track and field might have looked forward to the possibility of Shelby Houlihan doubling in the women’s 1,500- and 5,000-meter finals at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, instead it was her teammates Elise Cranny and Karissa Schweizer who became the leading ladies in the latter event Monday for Nike Bowerman Track Club.

And after much anticipation as to whether 34-year-old Jenny Simpson could qualify for a fourth consecutive Olympics, there was still a strong New Balance presence in the 1,500 championship, only it came from three first-time qualifiers instead of the 2016 bronze medalist in Rio de Janeiro.

With Houlihan facing a possible four-year ban for testing positive in January for the banned substance nandrolone and not allowed to compete under appeal at the Trials, in addition to Simpson not being able to summon her magic once more to qualify for an 11th consecutive U.S. national team, it created an opportunity for six female athletes to all earn their first Olympic berths.

Elle Purrier St. Pierre quickly regrouped after absorbing contact early in the race that resulted in her being temporarily knocked off the track to produce the fastest 1,500 time in Trials history by clocking 3 minutes, 58.03 seconds, eclipsing the 1988 mark of 3:58.92 by Mary Decker.

BUILDING THE TEAM

“Honestly it was such a blur. In the first 50 metres I got shoved pretty hard, and right after that happened I realized I didn’t want to get pushed around so I just pushed the pace throughout the whole thing and knew people would go with me,” said Purrier St. Pierre, who improved on her 3:58.36 performance from May 9 at the USATF Golden Games and Distance Open at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.

“It definitely did (tick me off). I don’t know what happened. I was in the first lane, so was on the rail, and when the girls cut in there was a collision that shoved me off. I jumped back on the track as fast as I could and tried to not let it bother me, but it gave me a bit of a boost.”

Cory McGee, who trains with Joe Bosshard’s group in Colorado, ran a lifetime-best 4:00.67 to place second and Heather MacLean of New Balance Boston, who trains with Purrier St. Pierre, also achieved a personal-best 4:02.09 to take third.

“It’s beyond special. I’ve been picturing this day for over a year now. Elle is one of my best friends and I’m lucky to call her a teammate. She’s one of the best in the world. I wanted to be on that team with her and we made it happen,” MacLean said. “Sea of orange baby. I remember thinking how cool it would be if three New Balance athletes made it to Tokyo. I hope New Balance is really happy, we are happy. Elle and Cory are great people and they made the race honest. I’m really lucky.” 

McGee, who last made a U.S. national team in 2013 for the World Championships in Moscow, improved her personal best by nearly three seconds to elevate to the No. 13 competitor in American history.

“I felt Elle get tripped up and I could tell she wasn’t having it and started going for it. So my strategy was just to stick with Elle. She pushed the pace after that so she went for it and I swear I followed her every step and stayed on her back,” McGee said. “With about 200 meters to go, I felt like I was running the fastest I’ve ever run. With 100 meters to go, I was starting to feel tired, but I knew that I could be an Olympian. When I crossed the line, I knew I was going to Tokyo.”

Stanford junior Julia Heymach, who fell in the semifinals June 10 at the NCAA Division 1 Championships and didn’t make the final, responded with a sixth-place finish in a lifetime-best 4:04.84, making her the No. 4 all-time collegiate competitor, including summer races.

Simpson, also a seven-time World Championships qualifier, finished 10th in 4:07.76, the lowest finish in any event for her at a national championship during her career.

“It’s hard to believe. I truly thought I was going to make the team today. I just needed to be in 4-flat shape and that was proven today by the three amazing women today who made the team,” Simpson said. “The sport goes on without you. You don’t make the Games and the Games are fine and they go on without you.”

Just like they will without Houlihan, a 2016 Olympian in the 5,000, as Cranny prevailed in the 5,000 in 15:27.81, including a 63.73-second final lap to rally past Schweizer (15:28.11) to capture her first national title. Rachel Schneider, who recently switched sponsors from Under Armour to HOKA, took third in 15:29.56 to also secure her trip to Tokyo after placing fourth in the 5,000 in the 2019 national final.

“To have someone that you train with everyday and being able to do that together… feed off each other, even Rachel too; having her make her first team… All of us having competed in college together… It’s just a great group,” Cranny said. “Just working with Karissa in practice and doing a lot of 5k specific work and knowing the strength and speed were going to come together today… making it feel like practice and feeding off each other's team energy.”

Cranny and Schweizer were able to follow the success of 10,000-meter qualifiers Woody Kincaid and Grant Fisher, giving Bowerman four qualifiers in the first four days, with each athlete scheduled to double when competition resumes Thursday at Hayward Field.

“It’s so special, we’ve truly made it a team sport,” Schweizer said. “To work together to make it on the team, it felt like practice. I’m so happy to be on the team together.”

Schneider finished second in the 5,000 at the 2018 national final, but with no Olympic team or World Championships roster to make that year, she instead went on to win the gold medal at the NACAC Championships in Toronto that August.

Her return to the podium Monday held extra significance after earning a trip to Tokyo.

“It feels like a dream come true,” Schneider said. “To get to go represent our country on the highest stage at the Olympics is just a huge honor. I’m really looking forward to training as hard as I can.”

While the Bowerman athletes were racing Monday for Houlihan, Purrier St. Pierre said she would have enjoyed the opportunity to compete against the reigning American 1,500 record holder.

“I don’t think it was any different. She probably would’ve pushed the pace. I don’t really have a lot of comments to make,” Purrier St. Pierre said. “I wish I could’ve gotten to race her. That part I’m disappointed about, but I’m just trying to enjoy the moment right now.”