Jennings outclasses field in women's steeplechase
Watch the women's steeplechase at the LA Grand Prix with Gabrielle Jennings outclassing the field.
Video Transcript
The Cedar Sinai 3,000 meter steeplechase.
Gabby Jennings- It's number eight seed- First to be introduced NCAA indoor champion from the- Gabby Jennings out there Courtney Wayment.
We'll talk about a little bit more of it in the race.
Running with Team Boss.
They're well represented out there today.
Angelina Ellis.
Courtney Wayment, out of Layton, Utah, was top American finisher in Stade de France in the steeplechase, where she finished in 12th.
But when you talk about American steeplechasing, Emma Coburn still is the first person on the list.
I think first words that come to mind for, for me is resilient and revered and respected.
When, when you look at Emma, not just for the work that she's done on the track and the hardware and the records and everything- On your marks but really the off-the-track things that she is able to continually show up, bring that, like, athletic tenacity, bring that, what we've always seen out of her, which I think is overlooked and often so difficult year in and year out.
Happy she's back on the track after breaking that bone in her foot last season, missing an enormous portion of the year, and here we are blessed to get to watch her roll through the event that she is synonymous with.
Look at the rest of the field in this women's 3,000 meter steeplechase.
Coburn has only run two steeplechases since the world championships in Budapest, Hungary back in 2023, but a lot has happened.
Of course, she lost her mother to a long battle with cancer, but fortunate now to also be raising a daughter, Betty Anne.
And so that, you know, is part of that transition, but also her desire and drive to continue to be in the upper echelons of steeplechasing in the United States.
It is clearly that one mile away is such a drawing card to try to extend seasons and careers just a little bit longer.
It, it absolutely is.
It's a, it's a, just a interesting thing to go from this world-class athlete with, you are the center and you are the, the business, and you are the machine that drives everything forward, and then all of a sudden you think it's gonna change and it's gonna be difficult and harder, but it, there's way more motivation going out and putting in the work and doing the things that this event and this sport demands of you when there's a family back home.
Blue lights, that's the color she was looking for at the beginning.
Green is the- The pacing lights are lit for this race, as they are set for a time of nine minutes and 12 seconds.
Coburn in fourth.
Well under the meet record that was set back in 2024 by Kailey McCabe of Canada, 9:20.58.
This entire field certainly capable of getting under that time by the time seven and a half laps are complete.
Gracie Hyde, Gabby Jennings, Lexi Holiday ahead of Emma Coburn, and then Courtney Wayment right behind Coburn, sitting there in fifth.
Everybody right on with the lights.
The spacing looks great.
Everybody c- has a comfortable distance around them to stay out of trouble, stay out of traffic.
The man, the myth, the legend, Joe Kovacs- Gracie Hyde taking it to the front, looking to put a little distance right now.
Looks great competing at the highest level, multiple-time silver medalist at the Olympics.
Let's check in on the final three throws in this men's shot put competition, Trey, as we go back to Joe Kovacs.
And as soon as I said he was gonna take the lead into the final, got relegated down into third.
This is final attempt, and it does not look like it is going to be enough.
We will see how it comes up.
He's tied with Jordan Geist right there at 21.76, so they count back to the next farthest throws.
Geist with a 21 meter, 42 centimeter throw, and Joe still about a foot away from that second-best mark.
By day, the throws coach at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania.
By Sunday afternoon, he's one of the best shot putters in the world.
Jordan Geist, who picked up silver at the World Indoor Championships, fouls on his last attempt.
So Gjendra Campbell will be up here momentarily with the pressure off.
He is the winner and has one final attempt.
Medalist, trying to put an exclamation point on- And then watching and getting to witness what the Jamaicans did in Paris in the throws was so refreshing, and I think kinda woke the sport up a little bit.
And just as we've seen Neeraj Chopra in the javelin and, and the Central Asian countries, I think the islands are gonna start putting together some of their bigger, bigger athletes getting into the ring, and that was a big one right there to end the meet from Gjendra Campbell, Paris bronze medalist in the shot put.
Before this competition, let's hear it for- Heck of a way to finish off right there.
Definitely a better throw.
21.94, 71 feet, 11 and three quarters, Paul.
So Campbell picks up the victory in the Los Angeles Grand Prix in the men's shot put.
Congratulations all around.
Gracie Hyde, who was pacing this field, now gives way to Gabby Jennings and Lexi Holiday, as they will lead this race now as they move to the interior and hit the water jump once again.
We are leading the second chase pack, only 3,000 meters, four laps in You know, there's all types of different kinds of motivation, Trey, for- North Brown on the lead that road to Los Angeles in 2028.
For Gabby Jennings, that hard place to be at the last Olympic trials, your fourth, and you see that moment of opportunity and making an Olympic team slip away.
Yeah, I think there's probably no b- no bigger motivator than, than that placing.
And, and I've talked to some athletes, and myself included, that have kind of finished off the podium or missed a team, and you would rather be dead last than, than in that fourth spot.
It is such a difficult place to, to live with and sit with over the next 12 months or four years even.
But it gives you an incredible amount of drive day in and day out until you can make it right.
Lexi Halladay Lowery running in second.
She is the reigning US champion, will likely try to defend that at the US Championships that'll be held in New York City coming up later on this summer.
Group of four that includes Emma Coburn, well back of the leaders now.
Livia Markovic was a collegiate standout at Notre Dame in that group, along with Angelina Ellis and Maddie Boerman, who ran at Colorado.
So they'll try to work together, but right now it is solo running for first, second, and third with Jen Jennings, Holiday Lowery, and Waymon kind of equidistant between each other.
The toughest kind of running, especially in this race.
This is always at the very top of the debate, what is the most difficult and most punishing event in track and field?
This is right up there.
This is where all the strength, this is where the fall and the winter, the miles, this is where it all shows up right here coming down to these final couple of laps.
Two laps to go in this women's 3,000 meter steeplechase, and Jennings in control right now out of Louisiana.
She competed collegially at Furman and is right on those lights, tracking at that 9:12 pace.
She has a lifetime best of 9:06:61.
Ran that last year at the Prefontaine Classic, which will be next on our broadcast schedule here on NBC.
A couple of days of action in the first weekend of July, and based on what we've seen today, anticipate some fireworks on the track and in the field on a weekend full of fireworks celebrating the nation's 250th birthday, as Jennings getting over that barrier safely, and now will come down the main straightaway for the penultimate time.
Looks incredibly calm, smooth, relaxed.
She's caught the, caught the front of those lights.
That right there, that was the first time I've s- we've seen her stutter over a hurdle almost the entire race, I believe.
And the way this race t- is set up and where the barriers are and the water jump, they actually will finish on the back stretch here at USC.
And so she's into her final strides, and will finish off a victory in this women's 3,000 meter steeplechase.
One barrier to go and the finish line now in sight.
Holiday Lowery in second, Waymont in third, and Emma Coburn trying to hold on for fourth position, but there is the winner from across the way.
Gabby Jennings wins the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
9:11.72 And we'll look across the line, 9:11:72, a new meet record at the Los Angeles Grand Prix.
Holiday Lowery will finish second, and Waymon will finish in third.
Fourth goes to Coburn, 9:09:38.
Wins this race by almost double the length of the distance between barriers, across the line before Lexi, Courtney, and Emma could even make it to that last barrier.
All smiles right there.
A tough way to do it, 9:11:72, a meet record, but the way it was done was very much a solo effort for Gabby Jennings.
Fastest time by an American this year, Gabby Jennings, 9:11:72.
Back with a couple of more races to round out a fabulous day in Los Angeles.
