Elle St. Pierre set another American record on Saturday.
And this record-breaking run produced a first for the Vermont native and dairy farmer: She’s now a world champion.
The 29-year-old from Montgomery uncorked a blistering kick on the bell lap of the 3,000 meters to out-duel two-time world champion Gudaf Tsegay and claim the gold medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
St. Pierre’s winning time of 8 minutes, 20.87 seconds smashed the old national mark by more than four seconds and placed St. Pierre at No. 3 on world’s all-time indoor list, according to letsrun.com. Tsegay of Ethiopia owns the world record in the 5,000.
“It’s definitely really emotional. It’s a dream come true,” St. Pierre told pool reporters. “I knew it would be a fast race. I knew there was amazing athletes that I was going up against and I think that I was confident that that would work to my benefit. And so I just tried to get myself into a good position and hang on to the pace and close as fast as I could. It was nice to not to be thinking about pace that much and just to be competing out there.”
Moving into third ahead of the final lap, St. Pierre closed the final 200 meters in 29.76 seconds and the final 100 in 14.69, according to letsrun.com.
“I just hung on to the pace and I was like, OK, OK, I think you can do a few more laps at this pace as long as it doesn’t pick up too much. And then next thing I knew there was 400 to go. And I was like, OK, I can run a fast 400. And so I just hung on and, you know, I believed in myself because, you know, I’m a miler,” St. Pierre said.
St. Pierre gave birth to her son last March and returned to racing several weeks ago. On Feb. 11, St. Pierre reset her American record in the indoor mile at the 2024 Millrose Games (4:16.41). The 2022 world indoor silver medalist in the 3,000 meters, St. Pierre said the Wanamaker Mile victory was “for all the moms out there.”
Raised on a dairy farm in Montgomery, St. Pierre is a former star at Richford High School and is the University of New Hampshire’s most decorated athlete in school history. She became a U.S. Olympian in 2021. She now farms with her husband in Montgomery, VT and has been an advocate for dairy products throughout her athletic career.
St. Pierre’s son turns 1 on March 4.
“It’s been a big year for me. It’s really emotional to think of, but a year ago my son was born; to be here as a world champion, I can’t imagine it,” St. Pierre said in a story posted on worldathletics.org. I feel like a new person, a new athlete. I can’t wait to see him after this.”
Source: Burlington Free Press
Photo: Bernat Armangue, AP