Oregon's Katie Clute nabs steeplechase title, shatters meet record at U20 championships
When she arrived in Eugene a little over a year ago, Katie Clute had never run a steeplechase race in her life.
Just 60 days after making her debut in the event, the University of Oregon freshman used a savvy strategy and a furious kick to capture a U20 national title.
Clute won the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 10 minutes, 2.03 seconds at the U.S. U20 outdoor track and field championships Wednesday at Hayward Field. She shattered the previous meet record of 10:14.67.
After running stride-for-stride with North Carolina State's Angelina Napoleon for the entire race, Clute uncorked a blistering final 100 meters to propel herself to victory. Napoleon took second in 10:02.27.
"I honestly didn't really have a plan coming in," Clute said. "I was just gonna roll with the punches and see what happened; if I needed to take it, I would take it. If someone else took it, cool, I could go with them. But that last lap, (Napoleon) got ahead of me and I tried to really be conscious of being patient. I wanted my move to be the last move. I didn't want to start too far out and not be able to hold it.
"After the water jump, that momentum felt right."
Last weekend at Hayward, Clute placed 13th at the NCAA Championships in 9:56.99. It was just the fourth time in her life that she had run the event. Although she was a seven-time state champion during her prep running career at Olmsted Falls High School in Ohio, it was a different skillset that sparked UO distance coach Shalane Flanagan to test Clute in the steeplechase this spring.
"I had played soccer and basketball, so having done those different movements can be a good thing with steeple, where you need to be able to handle the jumping," Clute said. "It's just been about handling it better mentally — barrier by barrier. Just trying to focus more on using the hurdles as part of my running. Not just: stop, go over, go again."
Working with Flanagan has helped ease the learning curve.
"Throughout the year, she's gotten to know me and what makes me feel good and confident," Clute said. "You just don't do anything crazy, especially now. It's more just maintaining and just doing basic workouts. Nothing super interesting or anything, we've just kept it basic."
With Wednesday's win, Clute has secured a spot on the U.S. team for the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
"I can't wait to represent the United States and wear that team USA uniform," Clute said. "I'm so excited for that, and I'm really excited to do it with Angelina. It's going to be fun."
How Oregon athletes performed on Day 1 of U20 outdoor championships
Freshman sprinter Brazil Neal placed 17th out of 19 competitors in the women's 100 meters in 11.93 seconds.
Rodrick Pleasant placed 13th out of 19 athletes in the men's 100 in 10.68 seconds. Pleasant, who also plays cornerback for UO's football team, appeared in seven games last fall. He won Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward last summer.
In the decathlon, Oregon freshman Aiden Carter sits in second place after five events with 3,770 points. He narrowly trails Kenneth Byrd (3,885).
Oregon freshman Lakely Doht-Barron placed eighth in the women's 400 meter prelims with a time of 54.62 seconds to qualify for Thursday's final.
Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X @jarrid_denney
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon's Katie Clute captures U20 championships steeplechase title
