This was pretty amazing.
Within a week, flying across the country, adding the race to a meet and getting the rabbits in place. Then actually hitting the time.
With Pyrah in 96, he had a month to go to Europe and jump in some 1500m races that were already set up to go for time.
Sorenson had the same chance but fell just short.
James Corrigan has officially become my running folk hero. Blue collar high school runner with PR’s of 2:01, 4:23 and 9:13. Takes up the steeple as a freshman in college and runs 8:52 his first season. Decides to go “all in” on steeple this year and brings his PR down to 8:28 at NCAAs before bonking in the final, finishing 9th. Comes back with renewed determination in first round of OT with a big pr finishing second in his heat. In the final he is 6th or 7th at the bell and passes 3 or 4 including Bor and American record holder Evan Jager while running 60 seconds over barriers for the last lap and getting third in the final, accomplishing his first step to Paris. Oh, yea, then he flies to Philadelphia for an all comers meet run in front of a tiny yet appreciative crowd and in hot and windy conditions he runs his third steeple in 8 days knowing that unless he runs sub 8:15 he probably will not go to Paris. Rabbited perfectly at a pace he’s never attempted before for 2000 meters, he runs the last k in the lead with his nearest competitor 4 seconds behind him, finishing in 8:13.8, and securing his Olympic dream. Damn, if this were a book of fiction you would say it was more unbelievable than Once a Runner. Great job James Corrigan!
How does it work? Is James going pro now? He is the fastest American 2024!
My guess is that he signs a huge NIL deal with Nike and stays around and tries to win an NCAA title and work on his degree. Since BYU is a Nike school and all of his gear is decked out with the swoosh, it’s the same either way for Nike. This will be a case of “having your cake and eating it too”, plus James can work on finishing his degree.
I have no problem admitting I'm a big Jager fanboy and I hate to see him miss the team - but man, what a great underdog performance from Corrigan. Say what you will about the current qualification system but this makes for a really great storyline. Congrats Corrigan.
Nonfiction wrote:
James Corrigan has officially become my running folk hero. Blue collar high school runner with PR’s of 2:01, 4:23 and 9:13. Takes up the steeple as a freshman in college and runs 8:52 his first season. Decides to go “all in” on steeple this year and brings his PR down to 8:28 at NCAAs before bonking in the final, finishing 9th. Comes back with renewed determination in first round of OT with a big pr finishing second in his heat. In the final he is 6th or 7th at the bell and passes 3 or 4 including Bor and American record holder Evan Jager while running 60 seconds over barriers for the last lap and getting third in the final, accomplishing his first step to Paris. Oh, yea, then he flies to Philadelphia for an all comers meet run in front of a tiny yet appreciative crowd and in hot and windy conditions he runs his third steeple in 8 days knowing that unless he runs sub 8:15 he probably will not go to Paris. Rabbited perfectly at a pace he’s never attempted before for 2000 meters, he runs the last k in the lead with his nearest competitor 4 seconds behind him, finishing in 8:13.8, and securing his Olympic dream. Damn, if this were a book of fiction you would say it was more unbelievable than Once a Runner. Great job James Corrigan!
He was 0.8 slower than his PB (which he ran a couple of days before) in that NCAA final. Not sure why that is considered bonking.
If he was from Spain, we would be questioning this fairy tale progression.
I believe he’s clean, but it is incredible.
What if he goes sub 8:10 at the Olympics????
Nonfiction wrote:
James Corrigan has officially become my running folk hero. Blue collar high school runner with PR’s of 2:01, 4:23 and 9:13. Takes up the steeple as a freshman in college and runs 8:52 his first season. Decides to go “all in” on steeple this year and brings his PR down to 8:28 at NCAAs before bonking in the final, finishing 9th. Comes back with renewed determination in first round of OT with a big pr finishing second in his heat. In the final he is 6th or 7th at the bell and passes 3 or 4 including Bor and American record holder Evan Jager while running 60 seconds over barriers for the last lap and getting third in the final, accomplishing his first step to Paris. Oh, yea, then he flies to Philadelphia for an all comers meet run in front of a tiny yet appreciative crowd and in hot and windy conditions he runs his third steeple in 8 days knowing that unless he runs sub 8:15 he probably will not go to Paris. Rabbited perfectly at a pace he’s never attempted before for 2000 meters, he runs the last k in the lead with his nearest competitor 4 seconds behind him, finishing in 8:13.8, and securing his Olympic dream. Damn, if this were a book of fiction you would say it was more unbelievable than Once a Runner. Great job James Corrigan!
Legendary. Bronze ran 8:11.45 last Olympics, and I heard he's got a good kick. Just sayin'...
Funny, Pyrah, also a BYU alum :)
Misinformed take from someone planted on their couch. Hayward was electric. Stadium was deafening during the finals and many of the prelims. Athletes will say the same thing.