August 6, 2024
By: Katherine Trowbridge
Pasco native and Boise State, Idaho Alum, Marisa Howard, made her Olympic debut on Sunday, Aug. 4 in the first round of the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The track and field event took place at 10:04 am. Pacific time.
Howard did well but finished just over seven seconds shy of where she needed to be in to move on from the first round. Howard’s race was 9 minutes, 24.78 seconds. She needed to secure fifth place in order to continue racing (a time that clocked at 9:17.39).
For Howard, who shared her goal for the Olympics after the qualifier, “That I can glorify the Lord on the biggest stage, in victory or defeat,” she said, “Ultimately I run for the Lord, not anyone else,” she is satisfied with her results.
Steeplechase is a unique sport that takes more talent than just running or jumping. Howard describes the 3,000-meter steeplechase as “almost like a Spartan Race!”
Howard ran a new personal best time of 9:07.14 to punch her ticket to Paris, which is the eighth fastest time in the world.
Following her participation in the Olympics, the former Boise State runner will be joining the Boise State track & field and cross-country staff as an assistant coach.
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