Twice as nice: UNH standout Purrier St. Pierre qualifies for Paris Olympics in 2nd event

EUGENE, Oreg. – Elle Purrier St. Pierre, a 2018 University of New Hampshire graduate and Class of 2024 Hall of Fame inductee, ran a personal-best time of 3 minutes, 55.99 seconds in the 1,500-meter final at the track & field U.S. Olympic Team Trials to qualify for her second event at the 2024 Olympics. The 1,500 final was held Sunday at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.

Purrier St. Pierre, who had already qualified for the 2024 Olympics as the national champion of the 5,000 last week, shattered the 1,500 U.S. Olympic Team Trials record time of 3:58.03 that she set at the 2021 meet to finish in third place in this year’s trials.

Nikki Hiltz won in a time of 3:55.33 and Emily Mackay edged Purrier St. Pierre at the finish line at 3:55.90. Sunday’s final featured four previous Olympians, including Purrier St. Pierre, and three national champions – once again including Purrier St. Pierre – at this distance.

Purrier St. Pierre raced out to the lead from the starter’s gun and ran an opening 400 interval of 1:01.19. She continued to lead the pack with splits of 1:04.36 and 1:03.23 in the next two laps. St. Pierre was passed by the surging Hiltz with 50m to go and Mackay edged past the former Wildcat in the last five meters.

Purrier St. Pierre and Mackay finished first and second, respectively, in Thursday’s first round with Mackay crossing the finish line .06 behind Purrier St. Pierre, whose time of 4:06.41 was the fastest in the first round. Purrier St. Pierre then pushed through Friday’s semifinals with the fifth-fastest time (4:02.14) that was less than one second behind the winner.

Purrier St. Pierre competed in the 1,500 at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Purrier St. Pierre is arguably the most accomplished student-athlete in UNH history. She is an 11-time All-American – including an NCAA national champion – and 17-time America East champion. She was voted UNH’s Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year in 2018.