Team USA hadn’t medaled in the 3,000-meter steeplechase since Brian Diemer won bronze in 1984, and the women had never medaled. In her Olympic heat, she placed third with a time of 9:27.51, automatically qualifying for the Olympic final. Etenesh Diro of Ethopia led the early part of the race before she a fall caused her to lose her shoe.
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Colleen Quigley finished eighth and fellow American Courtney Frerichs was 11th. She used to work at a pizzeria, and gave her former coworkers a shout-out in her post race TV interview with NBC.
Galkina and Kenyan-born Jebet, who was the world junior champion, are the only two women to have run a sub-nine minute time.
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Frerichs qualified for the Olympics last month in Eugene, Ore.by taking second in her qualifying trial. During her senior year in cross country, Coburn finished in 20th place over the six kilometer distance at the NCAA national cross country championships. The race is scheduled to begin at 9:15 CST.
