AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post)
When Emma Coburn became the first American woman to medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2016 Rio Olympics, she set a national record along the way while bringing home bronze.
Earlier this year, Coburn very nearly matched that record-setting time at the Prefontaine Classic in a race in which she finished fifth overall.
Heading into the IAAF World Championships this week in London, Coburn said she expected to face a similarly competitive field. And that's exactly what she encountered during Friday's final, except this time Coburn emerged as the best of the best.