Folders |
Alabama's Doris Lemngole Grabs Collegiate 3,000-Meter Steeplechase Record in NCAA Finals DebutPublished by
Lemngole prevails in 9:15.24 in anticipated showdown against last year’s winner Markezich, who runs personal-best 9:17.36 for No. 3 in Division 1 history in tuneup for U.S. Olympic Trials; Kenyan standout halts run of 17 straight NCAA steeplechase crowns by American athletes to win Crimson Tide’s first title By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor Kirby Lee/Image of Sport photo EUGENE, Ore. – Doris Lemngole got the collegiate record. Olivia Markezich received the ideal challenge she needed ahead of the U.S. Olympic Trials. And everyone in attendance Saturday at Hayward Field was treated to the greatest NCAA women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase battle in the history of the Division 1 championship meet. Lemngole, a Kenyan athlete competing in her first year at Alabama, made a remarkable impact in her NCAA finals debut by clocking 9 minutes, 15.24 seconds to eclipse the 2022 performance of 9:16.00 produced by former Brigham Young standout Courtney Wayment. “I feel so good. That was my first national championship in the NCAA, and I’m so proud,” said Lemngole, who won the first women’s steeplechase crown in program history. “I didn’t expect that. My goal was to run under 9:20. I am so happy to break the collegiate record. When I was finishing up I saw the 9:15, I was so happy.” Markezich, the reigning Division 1 champion from Notre Dame, ran 9:17.36 to elevate to the No. 3 all-time collegiate competitor, improving on her previous-best 9:17.93 effort from last year’s USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field. Markezich prevailed in last year’s final in 9:25.03 in Austin, Texas, but was seldom challenged on her way to prevailing by more than five seconds against Lithuanian athlete Greta Karinauskaite of Cal Baptist, who finished fourth in Saturday’s championship race in 9:35.56. Markezich was grateful to square off against Lemngole two weeks ahead of the Olympic Trials at Hayward Field, getting a preview of the necessary level of elite performance it will require in order to qualify to race in Paris in August. “I knew it would be tough and it was tough, but Doris is a great competitor, and I am so happy to be racing against her,” said Markezich, who led for the first half of the race and remained within a half-second of Lemngole until the final lap. “I think it’s great to have competition like that in the NCAA, especially with it being an Olympic year. It’s good to get this really tough race in and I’m happy with it.” Lemngole snapped a streak of 17 consecutive victories by American-born female athletes in the Division 1 steeplechase final, becoming the first Kenyan women’s competitor to not only capture the title, but achieve the collegiate record. Only Wayment and former Colorado star Jenny Simpson have run faster as collegiate competitors at any point during the year than Lemngole did Saturday. Lemngole’s performance in the NCAA final was her fourth sub-9:30 effort in the same season, the most by any athlete in collegiate history. Markezich was attempting to become the first repeat winner since former Boise State standout Allie Ostrander captured three consecutive crowns from 2017-19, but still finished her Notre Dame career with four straight top-10 finishes in the 3,000 steeplechase final. “It’s definitely more than I could have ever expected and it’s all thanks to my coach (Matt Sparks) and the amazing teammates that I’ve had throughout the years to push me every day in practice. Notre Dame has been the best experience for me and I’ll miss it a lot.” Markezich was able to share her final collegiate experience with junior teammate Sophie Novak, who ran 9:40.54 to secure seventh, making Notre Dame the only women’s program with multiple All-Americans in the event this season. Iowa State’s Janette Schraft took third in a personal-best 9:34.52 and Laura Taborda of Portugal finished fifth for Arkansas in a lifetime-best 9:35.67, both athletes ascending into the top 25 all-time collegiate competitors. British athlete Elise Thorner of Florida secured sixth in 9:37.30 to earn a third consecutive All-America first-team honor after achieving recognition the past two years competing for New Mexico, and Northern Arizona’s Karrie Baloga took eighth in her fastest career effort of 9:42.22. More news |