University of New Hampshire junior Elinor Purrier capped a career year with a fourth-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday.
The Montgomery, Vt., native posted a time of 9 minutes, 48.06 seconds, just seven seconds off the first-place pace. Boise State’s Allie Ostrander (9:41.31) won the event, while Madison Boreman (9:46.48) of Colorado and Tori Gerlach (9:46.76) of Penn State rounded out the top three.
“I tried to take it and couldn’t finish as fast as I wanted,” Purrier said after the race. “Props to Allie. She ran an amazing race. I think maybe I took the lead a little too early and had some self-doubt and I think that certainly affected me.”
The fourth-place finish earned her first-team All-America honors, her third such honor this year. It was also Purrier’s third straight trip to the NCAA finals in the event.