Shelby Houlihan sets new 5,000m American record

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Shelby Houlihan has had an incredible 2018 outdoor track season. She was the American 5,000m and 1,500m champion, she ran 3:57 to break four minutes over 1,500m, and now she’s set a new American 5,000m record of 14:34.45 in Heusden, Belgium.

If I’m looking at the all-time list correctly, Shelby Houlihan is now the 39th fastest woman over 5,000 meters ever.

Athletes ahead of her:
14 from Ethiopia
13 from Kenya
3 from Russia
3 from China
1 each from the Netherlands, Turkey, Great Britain, Morocco & Romania

— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) July 21, 2018

On Saturday night, Houlihan had the help of American distance running legend Shalane Flanagan, along with Boston’s Cory McGee. Flanagan and McGee set the race to bring Houlihan through at a record-breaking pace. Once the two pacers dropped off, Houlihan had to run hard on her own. 

Flanagan is also a former American 5,000m record holder. 

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Houlihan dropped the field and won the race by nearly 30 seconds. The previous record was held by Shannon Rowbury in 14:38.92. 

Houlihan’s next race will be a 1,500m in Birmingham where she could also capture the American 1,500m record. She has run 3:57 this season, and the current 1,500m record stands at 3:56.29. That mark was also set by Rowbury.