RIO DE JANEIRO — Former University of Colorado runner Emma Coburn made history in track and field Monday -- becoming the first woman from the U.S. to win a medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Coburn led in the early stages, but Bahrain's Ruth Jebet opened a huge gap halfway through and didn’t look back.
Jebet won gold in the second fastest time ever. Coburn took the bronze.
MORE | See pictures of Coburn in Rio
Kenya’s Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi, the world champion, claimed the silver medal but was over seven seconds behind Jebet.
Coburn's final time of 9 minutes, 7.63 seconds topped her own U.S. record in the event, according to our partners at the Boulder Daily Camera. Coburn finished ninth in the steeplechase in her Olympic debut four years ago with a mark of 9:23.54.
Meet the Coloradans competing in Rio.
Read more about the 2016 Rio games.
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