Former University of Colorado runners Jenny Simpson (1,500) and Emma Coburn (steeplechase) earned national titles on Saturday at U.S. outdoor track and field championship in Sacramento, Calif.
Another former Buffalo, 31-year-old Sara Vaughn, finished third in the 1,500.
“We have an enormous school pride,” Simpson said.
Coburn, who won the bronze medal in Rio, secured her spot to represent Team USA at the World Championships when she won the steeplechase final in 9 minutes and 20.28 seconds, marking her sixth national title of her career.
Simpson won her fourth consecutive national title in the 1,500 with a powerful homestretch run to win the race in 4:06.33.
Vaughn executed a stunning come-from-behind effort to claim the third and final spot with a finishing time of 4:07.85, less than a second ahead of fourth-place finisher Lauren Johnson.
Other highlights:
• World-record holder Keni Harrison used a strong start to win her first 100-meter hurdles title. Nia Ali, the silver medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Games, was second and Christina Manning took third.
• Pole vaulter Sam Kendricks became a member of the six-meter club (19 feet, 8 ¼ inches) in his win.
