![]() Bates at the 2023 Chicago Marathon | |||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born | Elk River, Minnesota, U.S. | July 8, 1992||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) | ||||||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||||||
Country | ![]() | ||||||||||||||
Event(s) | 5000 m, 10,000 m, cross country running, road racing | ||||||||||||||
College team | Boise State Broncos | ||||||||||||||
Club | Asics | ||||||||||||||
Turned pro | July 2015 | ||||||||||||||
Coached by | Joe Bosshard | ||||||||||||||
Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||
Personal bests | |||||||||||||||
Medal record
|
Emma Bates (born July 8, 1992) [1] is an American long-distance runner, who competes in the marathon. Her achievements include winning the USA Marathon Championships in 2018, placing second in the 2021 Chicago Marathon, and finishing fifth in the 2023 Boston Marathon. Bates also represented the United States in the marathon at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, where she set a personal best of 2:23.18 and finished seventh. Her highest position on the World Athletics Rankings was No. 14 in the marathon in July 2022. [2]
In college, Bates competed for Boise State University, where she was a 12-time All-American. She won the 10000 metres at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships and was the runner-up in the 2013 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. Bates turned professional in June 2015 and was associated with the Boston Athletic Association until 2017. In January 2021, she signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with the sports company Asics. Bates trains with the distance group Team Boss.
Encouraged by her parents to channel her energy, Bates began running in 6th grade. [3] [4] She attended Elk River High School in Minnesota, graduating in 2010. During her senior year, she achieved runner-up in the state cross country championships and led her team to a state title. She also recorded personal bests of 11:08.25 for 3200 m and 5:00.13 for 1600 m. Reflecting on her high school training, Bates stated that she took a relaxed approach. In an interview, she recalled, “On easy days, my teammates and I would often not even run — we’d go to the grocery store and get donuts or something.” [4]
Bates attended Boise State University in Idaho, where she was a 12-time All American in the NCAA. She specialized in the 10000 m, placing third in this event at the 2013 NCAA Track and Field Championship and progressing to win first place in 2014. [5] Her winning time of 32:32.35 in 2014 was the second fastest in the championship's history. In cross country, she was the runner-up at the 2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships, finishing behind Abbey D'Agostino. At the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships, she finished third.
After graduating from Boise State, Bates began competing professionally for the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) in July 2015 as part of the High Performance Group. [6] This decision led her to relocate to Boston, Massachusetts. During this early phase of her career, Bates competed in a range of distances. Her fastest times in 2016 included a 4:22.48 in the 1500 metres and a 56:00 in the ten-mile race. [7] Bates also finished 21st at the 2016 USA Track and Field Championships. A shift in Bates' focus occurred in 2017 as she transitioned away from the track to longer-distance events, including the half marathon. Her half marathon debut was at the Des Moines Half Marathon on October 15, 2017, which she won with a time of 1:15:10.
Bates faced challenges in her first few years a professional runner after joining the BAA. In an interview with ESPN, she stated, "I was not enjoying life in Boston, not enjoying running like I once did and did not fully believe in the training program I was a part of." [8] By the end of 2017, Bates decided to leave the BAA and return to Idaho. There, she established a new training group called the Idaho Distance Project. [8]
Bates participated in various road races within the USATF Running Circuit. These races included third place finishes at the US 20 km Road Running Championships and the US 10M Road Running Championships. The circuit operates on a points system in which athletes earn points according to their finishes; the better the finish, the more points gained. Bates's high finishes allowed her to accumulate enough points to win the 2018 USATF Running Circuit. [9] [10]
Bates competed in two half marathons in 2018. Her first half marathon was at the Doha Half Marathon on January 12, where she placed fourth with a time of 1:12:52. [11] She then improved her personal best at the 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships on March 24, finishing in 1:11:45 and placing 27th; she was the fastest American woman in the race. [12]
Bates capped the year by participating in the California International Marathon on December 2. This race also served as the USA Marathon Championships. In this race, her first-ever marathon, she won with a time of 2:28:19. [13] Her win came despite stopping multiple times to vomit in the latter half of the course. [14] During her peak training for this event, she logged 110–115 miles per week. [10]
In January 2019, Bates attained a professional sponsorship deal from the sportswear company Asics. [15] Her first race representing Asics was at the New York City Half Marathon on March 17, 2019, where she finished fourth. [16] Two months later on May 5, 2019, Bates came third in the USA Half Marathon Championships. In her second-attempt at the marathon, Bates placed fourth in the 2019 Chicago Marathon on October 13. [17] She was the first American to finish and recorded a mark of 2:25:27. The race featured strong competition, including a world record set by the first-place finisher, Brigid Kosgei.
On 29 February 2020, Bates competed in the 2020 United States Olympic trials marathon in Atlanta, Georgia. She finished in seventh place, outside of the top three needed to qualify for the 2020 Summer Games. Afterward, her competition was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She returned to competition on October 28, 2020 at the Michigan Pro Half Marathon. She came in second and achieved a personal best of 1:09:44. Her last race of the year was at the Marathon Project in Chandler, Arizona, where she placed fourth in 2:25:40.
In April 2021, Bates relocated to Boulder, Colorado to join Team Boss, a training group led by coach Joe Bosshard. [18] She competed in the 10000 m at the U.S. Olympic Trials to finish 29th in 33:21.00. On October 10, she competed in the 2021 Chicago Marathon in 2:24:20 to take second. [19] This was her first podium finish in a World Marathon Majors.
On 18 July 2022, Bates participated in the marathon at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. She placed seventh in 2:23:18, setting a personal best and finishing with one of the strongest ever American contingents (Sara Hall was fifth, Keira D'Amato was eighth). [20] On November 6, she ran 2:26:53 in the New York City Marathon to finish eighth. [21]
In 2023, Bates competed in two marathons. Her first was the Boston Marathon, where she finished fifth with a time of 2:22:10, averaging 5:27 per mile and leading for most of the race. [22] [23] Her performance came during intermittent rain and headwinds, and it was just shy of the fastest time by an American woman on this course, narrowly missing Shalane Flanagan's record of 2:22:02. While Bates achieved a personal best in this race, her time is not considered legal for record purposes by World Athletics due to the course's net downhill elevation. On October 8, she finished 13th in the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:25:04. [24] She reached the halfway point in 69:31 but completed the second half in 75:33 due to pain in her foot.
Bates announced on January 6 that she would not participate in the 2024 US Olympic Trials, held in February. [25] The announcement followed a foot-related injury sustained by Bates during her running of the 2023 Chicago Marathon the previous October. In April, she was the top American woman to finish at the Boston Marathon and finished 12th overall. [26]
Bates is an avid backpacker and enjoys hiking in the Sawtooth Range. [27] In 2017, she moved to a remote cabin in the Boise National Forest that offered secluded trails for running. [3] The cabin was solar powered, with no television or cellular service. In 2023, Outside Magazine released an article about Bates' relationship with her partner. The article described how her partner helps her cope with the pressures of elite competition. [28]
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing Boise State | |||||
2012 | NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Des Moines, Iowa | 12th | 5000 m | 16:43.84 |
2013 | NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 7th | 5000 m | 15:59.35 |
3rd | 10,000 m | 33:37.13 | |||
2014 | NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 4th | 5000 m | 15:51.87 |
1st | 10,000 m | 32:32.35 | |||
2015 | NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 5th | 5000 m | 15:56.72 |
10th | 10,000 m | 33:50.14 |
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing Boise State | |||||
2013 | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Fayetteville, Arkansas | 14th | 5000 m | 16:08.56 [44] |
2014 | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 4th | 3000 m | 9:17.37 [45] |
4th | 5000 m | 16:25.66 [46] |
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing Boise State | |||||
2013 | NCAA Cross Country Championships | Terre Haute, Indiana | 2nd | 20:03.9 [47] | |
2014 | NCAA Cross Country Championships | Terre Haute, Indiana | 3rd | 19:44.5 [48] |
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing Boise State | |||||
2012 | Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 1st | 5000 m | 17:08.36 [49] |
2013 | Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada | 1st | 10,000 m | 36:09.92 [50] |
2014 | Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Laramie, Wyoming | 1st | 5000 m | 17:37.68 [51] |
1st | 1500 m | 4:40.06 [52] | |||
2015 | Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships | San Diego, California | 4th | 1500 m | 4:33.08 [53] |
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing Boise State | |||||
2012 | Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 1st | 3000 m | 9:47.51 [54] |
5th | 5000 m | 17:11.34 [55] | |||
2013 | Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships | Nampa, Idaho | 1st | 3000 m | 9:36.46 [56] |
2nd | Mile | 4:42.49 [57] | |||
2014 | Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 1st | 3000 m | 9:28.18 [58] |
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing Boise State | |||||
2010 | WAC Cross Country Championships | Moscow, Idaho | 3rd | 17:42.68 [59] | |
2011 | Mountain West Cross Country Championships | Fort Collins, Colorado | 11th | 21:33.1 [60] | |
2013 | Mountain West Cross Country Championships | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 1st | 20:48.2 [61] | |
2014 | Mountain West Cross Country Championships | Fresno, California | 1st | 19:37.3 [62] |
Jordan Melissa Hasay is an American distance runner. She grew up in Arroyo Grande, California, and attended Mission College Preparatory High School in San Luis Obispo. She was unanimously selected 2008 Girls High School Athlete of the Year by the voting panel at Track and Field News. In March 2009, she became the ninth high school athlete and third woman on the cover of Track and Field News magazine. She attended the University of Oregon, where she studied business administration and competed on the cross country and track and field teams earning 18 All-American honors, 2011 Mile and 3,000 meters NCAA titles. Her father was a high school basketball star in Pennsylvania, and her mother was a national level swimmer in her native England. Jordan Hasay is no longer coached by Alberto Salazar due to his suspension.
Kara Goucher is an American long-distance runner. She was the 10,000 meters silver medalist at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics and represented the USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics. She made her marathon debut in 2008 and finished third the following year at the Boston Marathon.
Shalane Grace Flanagan is an American long-distance runner, Olympic medalist and New York City Marathon champion. She was the first American woman to win the New York City Marathon since 1977. She holds the NACAC area records in both the 10k and 15k road races.
Jennifer Simpson is an American middle- and long-distance runner, formerly a steeplechaser. She won the gold medal in the 1500 meters at the 2011 World Championships, silvers at the 2013 and 2017 World Championships, and a bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in the event.
Sylvia Mosqueda is an American long distance runner notable for hard front running over an extended career at an elite level.
Molly Huddle is an American long-distance runner who competes in track and cross country running events. She held the American record in the 5000 meters set in 2014 in Monaco (14:42.64), which has since been lowered by Shannon Rowbury and Shelby Houlihan. Huddle held also the American record in the 10,000 meters set at the 2016 Rio Olympics with a time of 30:13.17, which has since been lowered by Alicia Monson.
Desiree "Des" Nicole Linden is an American long-distance runner. She represented the United States in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics women's marathon. In 2018, she won the Boston Marathon, becoming the first American in 33 years to win the woman's category in the event. She holds the women's 50K world record of 2:59:54.
Sara Hall is a professional American distance runner for ASICS. Hall's personal best time for the marathon is 2:20:32 set at the Marathon Project in Chandler, Arizona on December 22, 2020, making her the third-fastest American woman in history. She is the second-fastest American woman ever to run the half marathon, running 1:07:15 on January 16, 2022–an American record at the time.
Emma Jane Coburn is an American middle-distance runner who specializes in the 3000-meters steeplechase. She holds the distinction of being a world champion, world silver medalist, Olympic bronze medalist, three-time Olympian and 10-time US National Champion in the steeplechase.
Lauren Kleppin is an American long-distance runner. Kleppin competes in marathon, half-marathon, and numerous road distances. She holds the second highest American finish at the Los Angeles Marathon since 2012, having finished third in 2014. She is also a ten-time NCAA All-American, twice in cross country and eight times in track and field.
Abbey Cooper is an American middle- and long-distance runner. Cooper is the most decorated Ivy League athlete in track and field and cross country running. She is the first Dartmouth female distance runner to win an NCAA title. She won a total of seven NCAA titles in her career. In 2014, she became a professional runner for New Balance.
Rachel Tomajczyk is an American distance running athlete.
Emily Sisson is an American long-distance runner. She set the North American record in the marathon on 9 October 2022, when she ran 2:18:29 to finish second at the Chicago Marathon. Sisson also held the American record in the half marathon from May 2022 until July 2023. She represented the United States in the 10000 metres at the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships, finishing 9th and 10th. In June 2021, she won the 10000m at the 2020 US Olympic Trials and placed 10th in the 10000m final at the 2020 Summer Olympics. In 2024, she placed second in the marathon at the US Olympic Trials, qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Neely Spence Gracey is an American long-distance runner who competes in distances from 5000 metres to the marathon. She twice represented her country at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and was the top non-African runner in 2013. She also ran at the 2011 Pan American Games.
Molly Seidel is an American long distance runner. Seidel represented the United States at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country in 2012, 2013, and 2018. In her first-ever marathon, Seidel placed second at the 2020 U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials. Later, she went on to win the bronze medal in her third career marathon at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. At the University of Notre Dame, Seidel was a 4-time NCAA champion, 6-time NCAA All-American, 6-time Atlantic Coast Conference champion and 2016 female ACC Athlete of the Year.
Stephanie Bruce is an American long-distance runner.
Allison "Allie" Ostrander is an American long-distance runner from Soldotna, Alaska. The repeat NCAA Division I steeplechase champion in 2017, 2018 and 2019, she competed for the Boise State University Broncos. In July 2019, Ostrander announced her plans to forgo her final season of NCAA eligibility and begin running professionally.
Nell Rojas is an American triathlete, long-distance runner, coach, business owner, and winner of the 2019 Grandma's Marathon. She also competed at the 2020 USA Olympic Marathon Trials and finished in 9th place.
Weini Kelati Frezghi is an Eritrean-born American middle- and long-distance runner. She claimed asylum in the United States in July 2014 and subsequently achieved multiple victories in state- and national-level competitions while attending Heritage High School in Leesburg, Virginia. While competing for the University of New Mexico, Kelati won the 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. In June 2021, she became a U.S. citizen and began competing as an American. Kelati set an American record of 1:06.25 for the half marathon in January 2024. She runs professionally for Under Armour on the group Dark Sky Distance.
Conner Blair Mantz is an American long-distance runner, who specializes in the marathon. He ran collegiately for Brigham Young University and won the 2020 and 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. Mantz was the winner of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. He has competed professionally for Nike since 2021.