Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Lucky 13! Four Tigers Finish Strong at IAAF World Championships
October 03, 2019 | Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
Four former Tigers competed at the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar with incredible finishes for each, with three taking 13th place and the fourth setting a World Record.
Lizzie Bird '18 represented Great Britain in the steeplechase and was sixth in her heat, taking 13th overall with a personal best of 9:30.13. At Princeton, Bird competed in three NCAA Championships, two in cross country and one in the steeplechase. A four-time NCAA Regional qualifier in the steeplechase, she was a three-time Ivy League champion, was twice the runner-up and scored points for Princeton on four other occasions. The 2015 Ivy League Cross Country Champion, Bird holds the Princeton record in the indoor mile at 4:39.32 and has four top-five times in program history including: steeplechase (9:54.76), indoor 3,000 (9:18.42), outdoor 4x800 (8:39.79), outdoor 4x1500 (18:13.98). Bird was also a five-time U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic selection.
Carrie [Strickland] Dimoff '05 had a remarkable 13th place finish in a memorable marathon. With soaring temperatures and a reported "feels like 109 degrees" 45 percent of the athletes dropped from the race due to the heat. Dimoff did not let that stop her as she crossed the tape with a season best 2:44.35 as the second American across the line. Dimoff competed in two NCAA Cross Country Championships while at Princeton. She has a PR of 2:30.53 in the marathon and competed at the 2016 US Olympic Trials in the event while finishing sixth in the 2012 US Olympic Trials in the steeplechase.
Representing New Zealand, Julia Ratcliffe '17 was just one place out of qualifying for the hammer throw final as she hit 70.45 on her second attempt to finish - yes - 13th overall. The 2014 NCAA Champion and 2015 NCAA runner-up in the hammer, Ratcliffe was a four-time NCAA Championship qualifier in the event after winning four Ivy League titles. A two-time Ivy champion in the weight throw, and two-time runner-up, Ratcliffe was a four-time USTFCCCA All-Academic and five-time Academic All-Ivy selection. A semifinalist for the 2014 Bowerman Trophy owns a PR of 71.39.
Jasmine Blocker '15 wowed with a World Record as a member of the US 4x400 mixed relay. Blocker clocked a 51.2 on the third leg as the relay of Tyrell Richard, Jessica Beard and Obi Igbokwe posted a 3:12.42. The US went on the claim gold in the event with a follow up to the World Record with Allyson Felix taking the Blocker's leg in the final. At Princeton, Blocker was a the runner-up in the Ivy League outdoor 400 and qualified for the NCAA Regionals, while also scoring five additional times in her Heps career. Blocker finished her eligibility at Tulane, finishing seventh in the 2016 NCAA Championships in the 400 before going ton to compete at the 2016 US Olympic Trials.
Lizzie Bird '18 represented Great Britain in the steeplechase and was sixth in her heat, taking 13th overall with a personal best of 9:30.13. At Princeton, Bird competed in three NCAA Championships, two in cross country and one in the steeplechase. A four-time NCAA Regional qualifier in the steeplechase, she was a three-time Ivy League champion, was twice the runner-up and scored points for Princeton on four other occasions. The 2015 Ivy League Cross Country Champion, Bird holds the Princeton record in the indoor mile at 4:39.32 and has four top-five times in program history including: steeplechase (9:54.76), indoor 3,000 (9:18.42), outdoor 4x800 (8:39.79), outdoor 4x1500 (18:13.98). Bird was also a five-time U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic selection.
Carrie [Strickland] Dimoff '05 had a remarkable 13th place finish in a memorable marathon. With soaring temperatures and a reported "feels like 109 degrees" 45 percent of the athletes dropped from the race due to the heat. Dimoff did not let that stop her as she crossed the tape with a season best 2:44.35 as the second American across the line. Dimoff competed in two NCAA Cross Country Championships while at Princeton. She has a PR of 2:30.53 in the marathon and competed at the 2016 US Olympic Trials in the event while finishing sixth in the 2012 US Olympic Trials in the steeplechase.
Representing New Zealand, Julia Ratcliffe '17 was just one place out of qualifying for the hammer throw final as she hit 70.45 on her second attempt to finish - yes - 13th overall. The 2014 NCAA Champion and 2015 NCAA runner-up in the hammer, Ratcliffe was a four-time NCAA Championship qualifier in the event after winning four Ivy League titles. A two-time Ivy champion in the weight throw, and two-time runner-up, Ratcliffe was a four-time USTFCCCA All-Academic and five-time Academic All-Ivy selection. A semifinalist for the 2014 Bowerman Trophy owns a PR of 71.39.
Jasmine Blocker '15 wowed with a World Record as a member of the US 4x400 mixed relay. Blocker clocked a 51.2 on the third leg as the relay of Tyrell Richard, Jessica Beard and Obi Igbokwe posted a 3:12.42. The US went on the claim gold in the event with a follow up to the World Record with Allyson Felix taking the Blocker's leg in the final. At Princeton, Blocker was a the runner-up in the Ivy League outdoor 400 and qualified for the NCAA Regionals, while also scoring five additional times in her Heps career. Blocker finished her eligibility at Tulane, finishing seventh in the 2016 NCAA Championships in the 400 before going ton to compete at the 2016 US Olympic Trials.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
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