Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Ed Trippas Qualifies for Tokyo Olympics in Steeplechase
June 29, 2021 | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field
VALENCIA, Spain. – On the last day of the Tokyo Olympics qualification window, Ed Trippas of the Princeton University men's track & field/cross country team produced a clutch performance for the ages as he qualified for the Australian Olympic Team in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
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Competing in Spain, Trippas' time of 8:19.60 crushed the Olympic qualifying standard of 8:22.00, along with his previous PR of 8:33.90. He becomes only the fourth man from Oceania to break 8:20.00 and his time puts him at No. 3 on Australia's all-time list in the steeplechase. Trippas' time also ranks No. 10 all-time by an NCAA student-athlete and would have him earned him a first-place finish at the 2021 NCAA Championships, as the winner, Kigen Chemadi of Middle Tennessee State University, finished in 8:28.20.
Princeton will now have had a presence in the men's steeplechase at three-straight Olympics, as Donn Cabral '12 competed in the event in 2016 and 2012. Lizzie Bird '17 will also be representing Great Britain in the steeplechase on the women's side, while Sondre Guttormsen '23 will represent Norway in the pole vault and Julia Ratcliffe '17 will represent New Zealand in the discus.
"We are all so proud of Ed for earning a spot on the Australian Olympic Team," said Head Cross Country Coach & Distance Coach in Track Jason Vigilante. "We have seen him develop from a high school star to a world class athlete; and all along the way he's been an outstanding leader on our team. We know Ed will be a wonder ambassador for both Princeton and Australia in Tokyo!"
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Trippas, who will be the men's cross country captain this upcoming fall, has had an outstanding career at Princeton. He earned honorable mention All-America honors in the steeplechase in 2019, was an NCAA XC participant in 2018, and was the Ivy League Champion in the steeplechase in 2019, also earning First Team All-Ivy League honors in the event. He was named Second Team All-Ivy League in XC in 2018, and earned Second Team All-Ivy League honors in the 5,000 in 2020 after finishing as runner-up at Indoor Heps. Trippas also added valuable points for the Tigers in the 3,000 (2020 Indoor Heps), the steeplechase (2018 Outdoor Heps), the 4x800 (2019 Outdoor Heps) and the 3,000 (2019 Indoor Heps).
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Competing in Spain, Trippas' time of 8:19.60 crushed the Olympic qualifying standard of 8:22.00, along with his previous PR of 8:33.90. He becomes only the fourth man from Oceania to break 8:20.00 and his time puts him at No. 3 on Australia's all-time list in the steeplechase. Trippas' time also ranks No. 10 all-time by an NCAA student-athlete and would have him earned him a first-place finish at the 2021 NCAA Championships, as the winner, Kigen Chemadi of Middle Tennessee State University, finished in 8:28.20.
Princeton will now have had a presence in the men's steeplechase at three-straight Olympics, as Donn Cabral '12 competed in the event in 2016 and 2012. Lizzie Bird '17 will also be representing Great Britain in the steeplechase on the women's side, while Sondre Guttormsen '23 will represent Norway in the pole vault and Julia Ratcliffe '17 will represent New Zealand in the discus.
"We are all so proud of Ed for earning a spot on the Australian Olympic Team," said Head Cross Country Coach & Distance Coach in Track Jason Vigilante. "We have seen him develop from a high school star to a world class athlete; and all along the way he's been an outstanding leader on our team. We know Ed will be a wonder ambassador for both Princeton and Australia in Tokyo!"
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Trippas, who will be the men's cross country captain this upcoming fall, has had an outstanding career at Princeton. He earned honorable mention All-America honors in the steeplechase in 2019, was an NCAA XC participant in 2018, and was the Ivy League Champion in the steeplechase in 2019, also earning First Team All-Ivy League honors in the event. He was named Second Team All-Ivy League in XC in 2018, and earned Second Team All-Ivy League honors in the 5,000 in 2020 after finishing as runner-up at Indoor Heps. Trippas also added valuable points for the Tigers in the 3,000 (2020 Indoor Heps), the steeplechase (2018 Outdoor Heps), the 4x800 (2019 Outdoor Heps) and the 3,000 (2019 Indoor Heps).
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