Emma Coburn is one of my favorite athletes. I have watched Emma develop from a great collegiate athlete at the University of Colorado to a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2016, a gold medal at the World Championships in London 2017 and a silver medal in Doha 2019.
There’s a story I’ve never told about Emma’s AR which was supposed to be at the Glasgow Diamond League meeting on 12th July 2014. The AR was then dated 2009, set by Jenny Simpson in 9:12.50 in the 2009 Berlin World Championships Final.
I was traveling through Europe in 2014, spending most of my summer there for the Commonwealth Games, European Championships and Diamond League matches.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 15-26, 2022 Blockade Photo by Kevin Morris
The Glasgow Diamond League match was a great match. In the women’s lap, Emma finished second behind Hivot Ayalev, running 9:11.42. I was one of the few in the mixed zone who was waiting for Emma. I was in tears realizing how hard Emma ran and had to catch my breath. Emma was very kind, gave me a moment to breathe and we did our interview. The unfortunate thing was that the AR was not accepted because the drug test protocol was not followed; USATF rules state that drug testing must be done immediately after the event. It did not happen. Emma was tested the week before and the week after the Glasgow race but it didn’t count. There has been a miscommunication within Team USATF.
It will be May 28, 2026, at the NIKE Pre Classic, where Emma will finally get the AR she set two years ago with her 9:10.76.
Emma Coburn’s best comes from the Doha 2019 World Championships, where she ran an AR of 9:02.35 on 20 September 2019.
Fans see the big medal moments. You have to look below the surface to see the trials and tribulations of the Olympic medalist and world champion. In Tokyo 2021, Emma had a very difficult Olympic final, fell on the last lap and became DKed. He later called it a “disaster.”
Champions, true champions, come back from their trials and tribulations. Emma Coburn is such an athlete. At the 2021 Olympics, Emma made Team USA for the 2022 WC in Eugene. It was a very tough race with a terrific pace set by Nora Geruto. Emma stayed in the game for 2000 meters, staying in contention between 4th and 5th place. Jeruto won in 8:53.02, with three women under the magical 9 minutes. Emma finished a worn 8th in 9:16.49.
Emma suffered a knee injury in 2023 and could not participate in the final in Budapest. The incredible consistency (US titles in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022) is iconic.
In April 2024, Emma broke her ankle in Shanghai, China. It would be two years before Emma Coburn could ride the Steplechase again.
In those two years, Emma joined the training partners Gabby Jennings and: Parker Walby and train with them during study blocks. Emma and her husband, trainer Joe Bosshard, also had a daughter. An approach described by some observers as “Holistic” helped Emma recover from her injuries, both physical and psychological.
The Steeplechase has thirty-five obstacles: 28 hurdles and seven water jumps. In the past, the stable was run by American distance runners who could not make it in the two-mile or 5,000-meter races. Americans who took it seriously, those who trained over hurdles, learned to jump in the water and honed the endurance, speed and agility required, sometimes did well at distance.
Running with training partners works for many athletes. It seems to have worked wonders for Emma Coburn, Gabby Jennings and Parker Walby. Gabby has been a member of Team Boss since 2021. his PB is 9:06.61 at the 50th NIKE Pre Classic on July 5, 2026.
time LA TrackFest, Emma Coburn and Gabby Jennings battled it out with Elise Turner in near-perfect conditions. This will be Emma’s first flight since 2023. The heat was won by Elise Turner /GBR in a PB of 9:07.39 which took Elise second on the UK all-time list. Gabby Jennings finished second in 9:21.57, a nice season rustler. Emma Coburn finished third in a fine 9:23.87; His first stallion in three years was a huge success.
Shortly after, Parker Valby, a training partner of Emma Coburn and Gabby Jennings, ran the 50,000 meters. Leading by nearly seven minutes, NCAA champion and former NCAA record holder Parker Valby won in PB 14:49.41, Lauren Ryan, UA/Australia, PB 14:53.77 and Elise Stearns PB 14:55.24.
For Parker Walby, who hugged Emma Coburn after the race, there were tears of joy for both athletes. Parker spent 19 months injured with a fractured navicular that occurred at the NB Indoor GP 3000 meters in February 2025. During that nightmare, Parker left Boston, missing Florida, and returned to his college coach, Will Palmer.
Parker Valby then joined Emma Coburn and Gabby Jennings for some training. The three athletes worked well together and the LA TrackFest is a great example of fighting back from injuries and staying motivated and focused.
I’ve included a photo of Gabby Jennings, Emma Coburn, and Parker Walby running the day before LA TrackFest in this story. All three of these athletes have found systems that work for them and partners “Miles of Trials and Trials of Miles,” to quote the great, iconic author John Parker (Once a runner).
We wish Emma Coburn, Parker Walby, E and Gabby Jennings the best of luck. Oh, and yes, Emma, ​​looking at you and Parker made me tear up once again. After fifty years of witnessing great athletes, great events and great people in our sport, I have come to realize that every fourth place finish, or whatever it ends up being, is a story known to the people just competing, their coaches, their families and their fans.
That is the miracle of our sport.
