Shelby Houlihan

Shelby Houlihan (born February 8, 1993) is an American middle distance runner. Houlihan placed 11th in the 5000m final in the 2016 Summer Olympics, 13th in the 5000m final in the 2017 World Outdoor Championships and 5th in the 3000 meters final of the 2018 World Indoor Championships. She is the American record holder in the 1500 meters since 2019 World Athletics Championships final on 5 October.

Shelby Houlihan
Houlihan winning the 1500 meters at the 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Personal information
Full nameShelby Christine Prince Houlihan
NationalityAmerican
Born (1993-02-08) February 8, 1993
Sioux City, Iowa
ResidencePortland, Oregon
Height5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)[1]
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event(s)5000 meters
1500 meters
800 meters
College teamArizona State University Sun Devils
ClubBowerman Track Club
Turned pro2015
Coached byJerry Schumacher
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
Medal record
Representing the  United States
NACAC U23
2014 Kamloops800 m
Representing Americas
Continental Cup
2018 Ostrava1500 m

Personal

Shelby Houlihan was born in Sioux City, Iowa. Her mother and uncle were both competitive runners, as well as her half-sister.[2]

Houlihan resides in Portland, Oregon.

High school

Houlihan attended East High School in Sioux City, Iowa. She held high school personal records of 4:43.64 in the one mile run, 2:07.35 in the 800 meter run, and 4:26.39 in the 1500 meter run.[3] She was the 2011 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year awards Girls Track and Field Runner of the Year and the 2010 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year awards Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. She claimed eight Drake Relays crowns, while also earning the title of Drake Relays Outstanding Female High School Performer for being the first female athlete from a high school to win three events in one year. Houlihan graduated in 2011.[4]

NCAA

Houlihan attended Arizona State University for college. She was the 2014 NCAA champion in the 1500 meters at Arizona State University as a junior.[5] She was the first student at Arizona State University to win a national individual title in the outdoor 1,500.

Houlihan was a 12-time NCAA Division I All-American, the second most in Arizona State history,[6][7] and a NCAA Track champion.[3] She holds Arizona State Sun Devils school records in the 800 meters, 1500 meters, one mile, and 3000 meters.[8][9]

Professional

Houlihan began competing for Nike and the Bowerman Track Club under coach Jerry Schumacher in 2015. She was among seven women who were trained by Schumacher who made it to the Olympics. Houlihan said of her teammates, "After watching all of my teammates make the team, I knew that I could do the same. The prelim felt very easy and gave me a lot of confidence going into the final. I thought the final would most likely be much faster, but I knew I was fit and capable of handling a fast pace." She also stated, "It's just amazing to have teammates be able to push me everyday. It's something I've never had before. Even that has put me above and beyond what I've done before. Obviously I made the right decision for me."[10]

2014 NACAC

Houlihan qualified for the 2014 North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Championship in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada where Houlihan won gold in the 800 meters in 2:03.00 ahead of silver medalist Rachel Francois, and bronze medalist Jenna Westaway.[11]

2016 Olympics

Houlihan qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in the women's 5000 meters after finishing second in the US trials to Molly Huddle.[12] When she finished the race, Houlihan cried. Houlihan said of the moment, "I've been working for that moment my entire life and for it all to come together and happen was one of the most amazing experiences of my life".[13]

Houlihan placed fourth in her heat in the 5000 m preliminary at the Olympics, qualifying her for the final.[14][15] Houlihan placed 11th in the 5000m final with a time of 15:08.89, finishing as the highest-placing American.[4] After the race, she said, "“I didn’t place as high as I wanted to, and I’ve got to take that as a learning step and just try to move forward and make me stronger. I wouldn’t have guessed I’d be doing the 5K this year. Ideally I’d like to stick with it. Once I get the (mileage) volume up and get more aerobically strong, I’m going to be even more of a threat. I’m excited to see where that could take me.”

Houlihan's hometown minor league hockey team, the Sioux City Musketeers, honored her after the Olympics with an ovation and ceremonial first puck.[16]

Late 2016 season

Houlihan placed 6th in 4:23.0 at the 2016 Fifth Avenue Mile.[17]

2017

Houlihan qualified for the London 2017 World Championships in the women's 5000 meters after winning the 5000 meters at the 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Houlihan ran 15:00.37 to place 3rd in the prelim to qualify for final, where she ran 15:06.40 to place 13th in the final.

2018

At the 2018 World Indoor Championships, making up more than 10 meters on the final lap, Houlihan pipped Fantu Worku to place 5th (8:50.38) in the 3000 meters final and 4th in 4:11.93 at the 1500 meters final for the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships after winning the 3000 meters (9:00.08) and the 1500 meters (4:13.07) titles at the 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On July 21, 2018, Houlihan ran the 5000 m in 14:34.45 in Heusden, Belgium on Saturday, assisted by Shalane Flanagan as pacer, she broke Shannon Rowbury's 2016 American record of 14:38.92.[18]

Houlihan placed second in 1500 m at 2018 IAAF Continental Cup.

2019

At the 2019 World Outdoor Championships, Houlihan set a personal best and new American Record of 3:54.99 in the final, finishing just off the podium in 4th place.[19]

Championship results
US National ChampionshipEventVenuePlaceTime
2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships[20]5000mDes Moines, Iowa1st15:31.03
1500 m1st4:05.48
2019 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships[21]2 MileOcean Breeze, New York1st9:31.38
1 Mile2nd4:29.92
2019 USA Cross Country Championships[22]10 kmTallahassee, Florida1st32:47
2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships[23]3000mAlbuquerque, New Mexico1st9:00.08
1500 m1st4:13.07
2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships5000 mSacramento, California1st15:13.87
2017 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships1 MileAlbuquerque, New Mexico1st4:45.18
2 Mile1st10:19.14
2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)5000 metersEugene, Oregon2nd15:06.14
2016 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships3000 metersPortland, Oregon5th9:01.11
2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships1500 metersEugene, Oregon10th4:17.15
2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships800 metersSacramento, California7th2:01.12

References
  1. ASU Shelby Houlihan profile
  2. Naughton, John (August 2, 2016). "From Iowa to Rio: Shelby Houlihan racing her way to Rio". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  3. "Shelby Houlihan Biography". TheSunDevils.com. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
  4. Journal Staff (August 19, 2016). "Houlihan finishes 11th in 5,000". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  5. Metcalfe, Jeff (August 19, 2016). "ASU's Shelby Houlihan places 11th in Olympic 5,000-meter final". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  6. Houlihan Finishes Career as a 12-Time All American” by Jeff Metcalf
  7. Arizona State Houlihan profile
  8. "ASU Outdoor Record Book - Women Page 12" (PDF). June 1, 2016.
  9. "2017 Arizona State University Outdoor Track and Field Record Book" (PDF). October 16, 2017.
  10. Portland's Shelby Houlihan passes pack to qualify for Olympics in women's 5,000The Oregonian
  11. 2014 North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Under 23 Championship Results in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada USATF
  12. "Portland's Shelby Houlihan passes pack to qualify for Olympics in women's 5,000". oregonlive.com. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
  13. Metcalfe, Jeff (August 16, 2016). "Iowa native Shelby Houlihan advances in Olympic 5K". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  14. http://results.nbcolympics.com/track-field/event/women-5000m/index.html
  15. Richardson, Ian (August 16, 2016). "Sioux City cheers as Houlihan qualifies for Olympic finals". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  16. "photos from Sioux City Musketeers hockey night". Sioux City Musketeers. September 27, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  17. New Balance 5th Avenue Mile Professional Women nyrrc.org. Retrieved by September 3, 2016.
  18. Shelby Houlihan breaks 5000 m record Flotrack
  19. 1500 METRES WOMEN IAAF WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS, DOHA 2019 QATARDOHA, QATAR 27 SEP 2019 - 06 OCT 2019 IAAF
  20. "2018 US Outdoor championship Results". usatf.org. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  21. "2019 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships results". usatf.org. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  22. "2019 USA Cross Country results". usatf.org. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  23. "Results". results.usatf.org. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
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