IS SHE UNBEATABLE? Doris Lemngole, that is. The year’s second-fastest, Pamela Kosgei, certainly thought so, wisely opting instead for the 5 and 10K events, which she won. Lemngole, who set a Collegiate Record in her 2024 win, had bettered that time twice this year, and the 23-year-old Alabama soph has displayed no indications of vulnerability.
However, hurdles and water can often create chaos in steeple races, and two Americans —Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU) and Angelina Napoleon (North Carolina State) — appeared ready to capitalize, should Lemngole seriously falter.
The first semi revealed nothing to temper the expectation. Lemngole eased away from her competitors with 4 laps remaining, ran most of the race in lane 2 even when alone, and displayed no signs of exertion as she finished in 9:26.44, the fastest semi ever. The next four were 11+ seconds behind, three with PRs.
Five runners grouped together in the second semi, led all the way by Napoleon and Halladay-Lowry. All finished between 9:36.19 (Napoleon) and 9:37.40, again with three PRs. The final projected as a very competitive race — for 2nd and 3rd.
The greatest steeplechase race and performance in NCAA history began rather inauspiciously, with a slow early pace. Lemngole led, with Halladay-Lowry on her shoulder for the first three laps. Then, with just under four laps remaining, a gap appeared, and began to ever-so-gradually widen.
Lemngole, no longer concerned simply with winning, had other objectives in mind. With no visible display of effort, she methodically drew away from everyone. With three laps to go, she was 3 seconds ahead of Halladay-Lowry, 9 ahead of Napoleon; with two circuits remaining, the margin was 4 and 11 seconds; at the bell, it was 5 and 13. All the others, at least 14 seconds behind Napoleon, were competing in a different race.
Continuing on her solitary quest, Lemngole hopped over (rather than hurdled) the barriers, accelerated even more, and finished her final lap in 68 seconds. Her time, a terrific 8:58.15, demolished her Collegiate and meet records by 12 and 17 seconds, respectively.
Said Lemngole of her impressive run, “Since my first championships [in ’24], I knew I wanted to try and get under 9:10 and I got that, and ever since I knew I could run it in under 9 minutes.” Of the challenge presented by water jumps, she added,…
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