Birthday: 10/19/90 Mile PR: 4:20.5 (road) - 2018
Metric Mile (1500m) PR: 4:03.82 - 2020
High School: Crested Butte HS '08
Hometown: Crested Butte, CO
College: University of Colorado '13
Current Residence: Boulder, CO
Personal website: emmacoburn.com
Emma Coburn won the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials 3000m steeplechase, breaking her meet record with a 9:09.41 to qualify for her third Olympics and also winning her 9th steeplechase national title.
At the 2021 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, finished second in the 2 Mile, setting a personal record in 9:15.71, also under Jenny Simpson's American record 9:16.78 from 2018.
In a rare 2020 race, Coburn won the Team Boss Colorado Mile in Grand Junction, breaking the beam in 4:32.72 to set a state record. In July, she finished third at the Team Boss Indiana Mile in a track PR of 4:23.65.
At the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Emma captured the 3000m steeplechase silver medal (her third global championship medal), running a personal record of 9:02.35.
In 2017, Coburn won the 3000m steeplechase gold medal at the World Championships in London, setting a championship and U.S record of 9:02.58 (since broken), and in the event, she also earned the first global championship gold for an American since 1952 and the first gold for an American woman ever!
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Emma earned the bronze medal in the 3000m SC, clocking a then U.S. record of 9:07.63 (breaking her own mark). Coburn's medal was the first for a U.S. woman in the event.
At the Prefontaine Classic 2016, Coburn broke her U.S. steeplechase record, clocking a 9:10.76, and at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, she won her 5th USA and 2nd Trials 3000m steeplechase crown, shattering the meet record in 9:17.48.
Emma, a multi-All-American at Coloroado, won the 2013 NCAA Indoor Mile title in 4:29.91 (third fastest performance all-time at the NCAA Indoors). The 2011 NCAA 3000m steeplechase champion captured the 2012 Olympic Trials steeplechase crown as well as the 2011, 2014-19 and 2021 USA steeplechase titles (9 overall).
FUN FACT: Coburn was one of the athletes featured in the 2016 ESPN Magazine Body Issue, and in 2021, she was named one of the 25 fittest female athletes in the world by Sports Illustrated.
Longstanding women’s U.S. indoor Mile record shattered; 11th U.S. high schooler sub-4; two outdoor Masters age group world records; COVID-19 causes cancelled events, limited racing year
By Ryan Lamppa, Bring Back the Mile
The main storyline of 2020 was obviously the COVID-19 pandemic and its...
Read More comments
Special event also raises more than $27,000 for the non-profit Sachs Foundation college scholarship fund
By Taylor Dutch, Runner's World
The professional runners of Team Boss used their first racing opportunity in five months to not just break records, but also give back to the Black Lives...
Read More comments
Eric Jenkins, Jenny Simpson return to defend event titles; iconic road Mile race to air live on NBC and to feature 23 heats throughout the day, including specialty heats for youth, seniors, NYPD / FDNY and the first-ever Borough Battle
By New York Road Runners
NEW YORK — The 2017 New Balance...
Read More comments
Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz leads men’s field, while Team New Balance stars and Olympic bronze medalists Jenny Simpson & Emma Coburn highlight women’s field; world’s largest & most iconic road Mile race to be streamed live on USATF.tv and to include specialty heats for youth, seniors...
Read More comments
"The treasured, powerful symbol of athletic success was like hiding in my suitcase in a bundle of socks.”
By Erin Strout, Runner's World
Team USA’s track & field athletes are always expected to do well at the Olympics—and usually they tally a significant number of medals across the sprints...
Read More comments
Since the competitive season ended, the Boulder-based teammates have enjoyed parties, appearances and a trip to the White House
By Erin Strout, Runner's World
Jenny Simpson and Emma Coburn each came out of the Rio Olympics with historic performances for the United States. Coburn won the...
Read More comments
Former NCAA champions for the Colorado track & field and cross country teams to be recognized at several events on Saturday, October 1
By Linda Sprouse, CU Boulder
BOULDER — University of Colorado will honor its two Olympic Bronze Medalists, Emma Coburn and Jenny Simpson, on Saturday, October...
Read More comments
"They are waiting for the battle of St. Crispan's Day, and are outnumbered five to one. Sometimes this year, with wave after wave of scandal in our sport, it has felt as if we were up against impossible odds. But, 'She who has no stomach for this fight, let her depart ... .' "
By Mike Sandrock,...
Read More comments
"Along the way there are different benchmarks that you dream of and hope for and work for, and the gold medal at the Olympic Games is the superlative."
by Neill Woelk, CU Buffs News
If there's one thing to be learned from an athlete's first Olympic experience, it is how to deal with the...
Read More comments
Jenny Simpson (1500 meters), Emma Coburn (3000m steeplechase) best hopes for Olympic podium
By Daniel Petty, Denver Post
EUGENE, Ore. — Nine athletes with Colorado connections will represent the United States on the Olympic track & field team in Rio next month, with serious contenders to...
Read More comments
The Colorado senior, who made the final of the Olympic steeplechase last summer, talks about her sub-4:30 Mile, spring racing and her post-graduation plans
By John A. Kissane, Running Times
Who is the most dominant female collegiate distance runner today? That’s impossible to answer. But Emma...
Read More comments
"This was something I really wanted and the Mile is not my specialty. I wanted to really conquer this distance and I think I made a step in the right direction."
By Linda Sprouse, Colorado Athletics
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Senior Emma Coburn claimed the University of Colorado's first NCAA indoor...
Read More commentsReturn the Mile to prominence on the American & worldwide sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a movement.
ELEVATE
Bring Back the Mile as the premier event in the sport, and increase interest in and media coverage of the Mile for both those who love the distance as well as the general public.
CELEBRATE
Bring Back the Mile to celebrate the storied distance and to recognize the people who made and make the Mile great and to promote Mile events and the next generation of U.S. Milers.
NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Bring Back the Mile to create a national movement for the Mile as America’s Distance, to inspire Americans to run the Mile as part of their fitness program and to replace the 1600 meters at High School State Track & Field Meets across the country.
Become a Mile Maniac member or a BBTM sponsor today! Join us, and go Mile!