All three Americans have earned spots to compete for a podium finish in the steeplechase at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Olympic Trials champion Emma Coburn, Courtney Frerichs and Colleen Quigley have earned spots on the starting line after top finishes in their respective semifinal heats on Saturday. 

It's the first time in history that all three Americans have qualified to compete in the women's steeplechase final. 

Emma Coburn safely made it into the steeplechase final after finishing second to Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech who surged ahead to claim heat two in 9:17. Coburn followed in 9:18 for an automatic qualifying spot into the final. 

After world leader Ruth Chebet threw down a 9:12.63 winning time over the field, American Colleen Quigley finished fourth in 9:21.82, just off her personal best mark. With the first three in each heat automatically advancing, Quigley earned the second fastest non-automatic time to qualify. 

Finally, Courtney Frerichs left nothing to chance when she surged to the front and claimed the third and final automatic qualifying spot out of heat three. The Bowerman Track Club athlete finished third behind Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi and Genevieve LaCaze in 9:27. 


Auto Qualifiers: 
Ruth Jebet (9:12.63) BRN
Sofia Assefa (9:18.75) ETH
Gesa Felicitas Krause (9:19.70) GER
Beatrice Chepkoech (9:17.55) KEN
Emma Coburn (9:18.12) USA
Habiba Ghribi (9:18.71) TUN
Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi (9:24.61) KEN
Genevieve LaCaze (9:26.25) AUS
Courtney Frerichs (9:27.02) USA

Time Qualifiers:
Lalita Shivaji Babar (9:19.76) IND
Colleen Quigley (9:21.82) USA
Madeline Heiner Hills (9:24.16) AUS
Lydia Chebet Rotich (9:30.21) KEN
Genevieve LaLonde (9:30.24) CAN
Fabienne Schlumpf (9:30.54) SUI

Additional Qualifiers After Protest:
Etenesh Diro (9:34.70) ETH
Aisha Praught (9:35.79) JAM
Sara Treacy (9:46.24) IRL

The final of the women's steeplechase takes place on Monday, August 15 at 9:15AM CST.