UNH graduate Elle St. Pierre 8th in women's 1500 medal round at Paris Olympics

SAINT-DENIS, France − Team USA's Elle St. Pierre got off to a strong start in the women's 1,500-meter medal race at the Paris Olympics Saturday, but was unable to earn a place on the podium after finishing eighth with a time of 3:57.52.

St. Pierre, a University of New Hampshire graduate, clocked a 59.6 over the first 400 meters and was running second at the time, but nobody in the 12-competitor field, St. Pierre included, could keep pace with Faith Kipyegon. The Kenyan, who holds the world record in the event, broke her own Olympic record in taking the gold medal in 3:51.29.

Kipyegon outpaced Australia's Jessica Hull (silver, 3:52.56) and Great Britain's Georgia Bell (bronze, 3:52.61) to set the new Olympic standard in the event. Team USA's other competitor, Nikki Hiltz, ran a 3:56.38 to finish seventh, just ahead of St. Pierre.

St. Pierre is a 2018 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where she was an NCAA indoor champion and 11-time All-American. Her national title came in the mile at the 2018 NCAA indoor track and field championships.

More: UNH Olympian Elle St. Pierre has 'bigger sense of purpose' since becoming a mom

Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: UNH graduate Elle St. Pierre 8th in women's 1500 medal round at Paris Olympics