BYU Sophomore Runs Lifetime Best 8:13.87 In Fifth Steeplechase Race In 24 Days And Earns His Spot On Paris Team

By Aaron Heisen for DyeStat

Steeplechaser James Corrigan confirmed his spot in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games on Saturday at the Penn Relays Summer Showcase as he finished in 8 minutes, 13.87 seconds. 

Six days ago, Corrigan ran to third place at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, but had yet to obtain the Olympic Games standard of 8:15. Saturday’s result changed that. The combination of a third-place finish in Eugene, Ore., and earning the standard means he’s now going to compete in Paris, France, this summer. 

“It’s a weight lifted off my shoulders,” Corrigan said in a phone interview. “I just felt so mentally prepared going into that. Of course, there's nerves before, but I think I was just locked in.”

When you consider all the factors, Corrigan’s tension was expected. His pace-setter changed 24 hours before the race. The deadline to get the standard is Sunday, so this was his only chance.

The reality that he, a collegiate sophomore whose personal best before the Trials was 8:28.84, could earn a trip to Paris for the Olympics loomed over him. After all, he said, he would have been perfectly satisfied if all he’d achieved was a U.S. Championship bronze. 

“But, I knew that there was more capacity in me,” he said. “I didn't want to disappoint anybody, because I had an idea of how many people were going to come out and support.”

Franklin Field was filled with Corrigan’s supporters and others just there for the Summer Showcase who cheered him on, too.

Fans, he said, traveled from hours to watch him run. His fiancee' lived in Pennsylvania and had friends and family come out. His training partners, including Kenneth Rooks, who won the men’s steeplechase at the U.S. Trials, shouted support from the edge of the track.

Dan Michalski, who stepped up to pace him after Rooks “had some complications,” got him through the first 2k. 

From there, though, he was alone. As Michalski parted the track, Corrigan was elated with his pace. He ran 4:23 through the first mile. 

“I just told myself right then and there, I'm going to the Olympics.”

He looked back up at his time with two laps left to see he remained on course. 

Crossing the finish line, Corrigan realized the result was fitting, especially after what he endured over the last 24 days. He competed in five total steeplechase races. After finishing second in the men’s steeplechase semifinal at the NCAA Championships, he only mustered a ninth place finish in the final.

Despite that shortcoming, he and coach Ed Eyestone always felt he was physically prepared to make the U.S. team. 

“I think if I hadn’t already done those turnarounds, it would have been really hard,” Corrigan said. “Things weren’t perfect leading up to this, and that’s OK.”