Emma Bates

For the educator and politician from North Dakota, see Emma F. Bates.
Emma Bates
Bates at the 2023 Chicago Marathon
Personal information
Born (1992-07-08) July 8, 1992 (age 31)
Elk River, Minnesota, U.S.
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Sport
Country United States
Event(s)5000 m, 10,000 m, cross country running, road racing
College teamBoise State Broncos
ClubAsics
Turned proJuly 2015
Coached byJoe Bosshard
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  United States
World Marathon Majors
Silver medal – second place 2021 Chicago Marathon

Emma Bates (born July 8, 1992)[1] is an American long-distance runner, who competes primarily in the marathon. Her achievements include winning the USA Marathon Championships in 2018, placing second in the 2021 Chicago Marathon, and finishing fifth in the 2023 Boston Marathon. Bates also represented the United States in the marathon at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, where she set a personal best of 2:23.18 and finished seventh. Her highest position on the World Athletics Rankings was No. 14 in the marathon in 2022.[2]

In college, Bates competed for Boise State University, becoming a 12-time All-American. She won the 10000 metres at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships and was the runner-up in the 2013 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. Bates turned professional in June 2015 and was associated with the Boston Athletic Association until 2017. In January 2021, she signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with the sports company Asics and trains with the distance group Team Boss.

Running Career

High school and college

Encouraged by her parents to channel her energy, Bates began running the 6th grade.[3][4] She attended Elk River High School in Minnesota, graduating in 2010. During her senior year, she achieved runner-up in the state cross country championships and led her team to a state title. She also recorded personal bests of 11:08.25 for 3200 m and 5:00.13 for 1600 m. Reflecting on her high school training, Bates stated that she took a relaxed approach. In an interview, she recalled, “On easy days, my teammates and I would often not even run — we’d go to the grocery store and get donuts or something.”[4]

Bates attended Boise State University in Idaho, where she was a 12-time All American in the NCAA. She primarily specialized in the 10000 m, placing third in this event at the 2013 NCAA Track and Field Championship and progressing to win first place in 2014.[5] Her winning time of 32:32.35 in 2014 was the second fastest in the championship's history. In cross country, she was the runner-up at the 2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships, finishing behind Abbey D'Agostino. At the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships, she finished third.

Professional

2015 -2017

In July 2015, following her time at Boise State, Bates began competing professionally for the Boston Athletic Association (BAA), as part of the High Performance group.[6] This decision led her to relocate to Boston, Massachusetts. During this early phase of her career, Bates competed in a range of distances. Her fastest times in 2016 included a 4:22.48 in the 1500 metres and a 56:00 in the ten-mile race.[7] Bates also participated in the 2016 USA Track and Field Championships, finishing 21st in the 10000 m. The year 2017 marked a shift in Bates' focus as she transitioned to longer-distance events, including the half marathon. Her half marathon debut was at the Des Moines Half Marathon on 15 October 2017, where she won with a time of 1:15:10.

Bates faced challenges in her first few years a professional runner after joining the BAA. In an interview with ESPN, she stated, "I was not enjoying life in Boston, not enjoying running like I once did and did not fully believe in the training program I was a part of."[8] By the end of 2017, Bates decided to leave the BAA and return to Idaho. There, she established a new training group called the Idaho Distance Project.[8]

Bates at the Des Moines Half Marathon in 2017, her debut at the distance.

2018 - 2019

Bates participated in various road races within the USATF Running Circuit. These races included the US 20 km Road Running Championships and the US 10M Road Running Championships, where she secured third place in both. The circuit operates on a points system, where athletes earn points according to their race finishes — the better the finish, the more points gained. Bates's consistent high placements allowed her to accumulate enough points to win the 2018 USATF Running Circuit.[9][10]

Bates competed in two half marathons in 2018. Her first half marathon was at the Doha Half Marathon on 12 January, where she placed 4th with a time of 1:12:52.[11] She then improved her personal best at the 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships on 24 March, finishing in 1:11:45 and placing 27th, making her the fastest American woman in the race.[12]

Bates capped the year by participating in the California International Marathon on 2 December, which also served as the USA marathon championships. In this race, her first-ever marathon, she won with a time of 2:28:19.[13] She faced difficulties during the race, as she had to stop multiple times to vomit in the latter half of the course.[14] During her peak training for this event, she logged 110–115 miles per week.[10]

In January 2019, Bates secured a professional sponsorship deal with the sportswear company Asics.[15] Her first race representing Asics was at the New York City Half Marathon on 17 March 2019, where she achieved fourth place.[16] Two months later on 5 May 2019, Bates competed in the USA Half Marathon Championships, coming in third. In her second-attempt at the distance, Bates placed fourth in the 2019 Chicago Marathon on 13 October.[17] She was the first American to cross the finish line, recording a mark of 2:25:27. The race was marked by strong competition, including a world record set by the first-place finisher, Brigid Kosgei.

2020 - 2021

On 29 February 2020, she competed in the 2020 United States Olympic trials marathon in Atlanta, Georgia. She finished in seventh place, outside of the top three needed to qualify for the 2020 Summer Games. Afterward, her competition was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She returned to competition on 28 October 2020 at the Michigan Pro Half Marathon, coming in second and achieving a new personal best in the half marathon with a time of 1:09:44. Her last race of the year was at the Marathon Project in Chandler, Arizona, where she placed fourth in 2:25:40.

In April 2021, she relocated to Boulder, Colorado to join Team Boss, a training group lead by coach Joe Bosshard.[18] She competed in the 10000 m at the U.S. Olympic Trials, running 33:21.00 to finish 29th. On 10 October, she competed in the 2021 Chicago Marathon in 2:24:20 to take second.[19] This was her first podium finish in a World Marathon Majors.

2022 - 2023

On 18 July 2022, she participated in the marathon at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. She placed seventh in 2:23:18, setting a personal best and finishing with one of the strongest ever American contingents (Sara Hall was fifth, Keira D'Amato was eighth).[20] On 6 November, she ran 2:26:53 in the New York City Marathon to finish eighth.[21]

In 2023, Bates competed in two marathons. Her first was the Boston Marathon, where she finished fifth with a time of 2:22:10, averaging 5:27 per mile and leading for most of the race.[22][23] Her performance, amid intermittent rain and headwinds, was just shy of the fastest time by an American woman on this course, narrowly missing Shalane Flanagan's record of 2:22:02. While Bates achieved a personal best in this race, her time is not considered legal for record purposes by World Athletics due to the course's net downhill elevation. On 8 October, she participated in the Chicago Marathon, finishing in 13th with a time of 2:25:04.[24] She reached the halfway point in 69:31. Shortly after, she experienced pain in her foot and slowed down, completing the second half in 75:33.

2024

Bates announced on 6 January that she would not participate in the 2024 US Olympic Trials, held in February.[25] The announcement followed a foot-related injury sustained by Bates during her running of the 2023 Chicago Marathon the previous October.

Personal life

Bate is an avid backpacker and enjoys hiking in the Sawtooth Range.[26] In 2017, she moved to a remote cabin in the Boise National Forest that offered secluded trails for running.[3] The cabin was solar powered, with no television or cellular service. In 2023, Outside Magazine released an article about Bate's relationship with her partner, describing how he helps her cope with the pressures of elite competition.[27]

Competition record

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing the  United States
2016 Great Edinburgh International Cross Country Edinburgh, Scotland 28th 6 km 23:05[28]
2018 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships Valencia, Spain 27th Half Marathon 1:11:45[29]
2022 2022 World Athletics Championships Eugene, Oregon 7th Marathon 2:23:18 [30]
Representing Boise State Broncos
2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sacramento, California 6th 10,000 meters 32:51.49[31]
2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 11th 10,000 meters 34:02.65[32][33]
Representing Boston Athletic Association
2015 USA Women's 10 km Road Championships Boston, MA 16th 10 km 33:54[34][35]
2015 USA Women's 12 km Road Championships Alexandria, VA 10th 12 km 39:50[36]
2015 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships San Francisco, California 5th 6,000 meters 20:02[37]
Unattached
2018 USA Women's 10 km Road Championships Atlanta Georgia 6th 10 km 33:15[38][39]
2018 USA Women's Marathon Championships Sacramento, CA 1st Marathon 2:28:18[40]
2018 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships Spokane, WA 8th 6,000 meters 19:56[41]
Representing Asics
2019 USA Half Marathon Championships Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 3rd Half-Marathon 1:11:13
USA 25 km Road Championship Grand Rapids, Michigan 1st 25 km 1:23:51
Chicago Marathon Chicago, Illinois 4th Marathon 2:25:27
2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials Atlanta Georgia 7th Marathon 2:29:35
2021 USA 15 km Road Championship Jacksonville, Florida 12th 15 km 50:42
2021 Chicago Marathon Chicago, Illinois 2nd Marathon 2:24:20
2022 New York City Marathon New York, New York 8th Marathon 2:26:53
2023 Boston Marathon Boston, Massachusetts 5th Marathon 2:22:10 PB

[42]

NCAA championships

Outdoor track and field

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing Boise State
2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 12th 5000 m 16:43.84
2013 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 7th 5000 m 15:59.35
3rd 10,000 m 33:37.13
2014 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 4th 5000 m 15:51.87
1st 10,000 m 32:32.35
2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 5th 5000 m 15:56.72
10th 10,000 m 33:50.14

Indoor track and field

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing Boise State
2013 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Fayetteville, Arkansas 14th 5000 m 16:08.56[43]
2014 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 4th 3000 m 9:17.37[44]
4th 5000 m 16:25.66[45]

Cross country

Year Competition Venue Position Notes
Representing Boise State
2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships Terre Haute, Indiana 2nd 20:03.9[46]
2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships Terre Haute, Indiana 3rd 19:44.5[47]

Conference championships

Outdoor track and field

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing Boise State
2012 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships Colorado Springs, Colorado 1st 5000 m 17:08.36[48]
2013 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships Las Vegas, Nevada 1st 10,000 m 36:09.92[49]
2014 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships Laramie, Wyoming 1st 5000 m 17:37.68[50]
1st 1500 m 4:40.06[51]
2015 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships San Diego, California 4th 1500 m 4:33.08[52]

Indoor track and field

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing Boise State
2012 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 1st 3000 m 9:47.51[53]
5th 5000 m 17:11.34[54]
2013 Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships Nampa, Idaho 1st 3000 m 9:36.46[55]
2nd Mile 4:42.49[56]
2014 Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships Colorado Springs, Colorado 1st 3000 m 9:28.18[57]

Cross country

Year Competition Venue Position Notes
Representing Boise State
2010 WAC Cross Country Championships Moscow, Idaho 3rd 17:42.68[58]
2011 Mountain West Cross Country Championships Fort Collins, Colorado 11th 21:33.1[59]
2013 Mountain West Cross Country Championships Colorado Springs, Colorado 1st 20:48.2[60]
2014 Mountain West Cross Country Championships Fresno, California 1st 19:37.3[61]

References

  1. ^ "Emma Bates – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  2. ^ "World Rankings for Women's Marathon". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 2023-12-10. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  3. ^ a b Spezia, Mark (2019-03-01). "U.S. marathoner Emma Bates thriving in seclusion". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  4. ^ a b Kissane, John (2013-09-10). "5 Minutes with Emma Bates". Runner's World. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  5. ^ LetsRun.com. "Boise State's Emma Bates Captures 2014 NCAA 10,000m Title After Great Stretch Battle With Elinor Kirk". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  6. ^ Dutch, Taylor (2015-07-27). "Emma Bates Joins B.A.A. High Performance Team - FloTrack". www.flotrack.org. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  7. ^ "Emma Bates, Season Bests on World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  8. ^ a b Spezia, Mark (2019-03-01). "U.S. marathoner Emma Bates thriving in seclusion". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  9. ^ Bush, Scott (2018-12-02). "Bates Wins Race and USATF Running Circuit, Austin Earns Late Victory at the USATF Marathon Champions". usatf.org. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  10. ^ a b Lorge Butler, Sarah (2019-01-08). "For Emma Bates, an Unconventional Path to an Amazing Year of Racing". Runner's World. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  11. ^ LetsRun.com. "2018 Doha Half Marathon Results: Allie Kieffer Gets Dominant Win, Mo Farah Doesn't Start with Achilles Problem". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  12. ^ LetsRun.com. "Netsanet Gudeta Kebede of Ethiopia Sets Women's Only World Record of 66:11 at 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  13. ^ Monti, David (2018-12-02). "Austin, Bates Win USATF Titles At 2018 California International Marathon - FloTrack". www.flotrack.org. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  14. ^ Gault, Jonathan. "Mo Farah & Jordan Hasay Speak, Emma Bates Tries Not to Throw Up, & More From 2019 Chicago Marathon Media Day". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  15. ^ "ASICS Signs Marathoners Emma Bates, Allie Kieffer To Multi-Year Deals - FloTrack". www.flotrack.org. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  16. ^ Middlebrook, Hailey (2019-03-17). "Belay Tilahun Surprises All With Come-from-Behind Win at NYC Half". Runner's World. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  17. ^ Gault, Jonathan (2019-10-13). "Brigid Kosgei Runs 2:14:04, Shatters Women's Marathon World Record at 2019 Chicago Marathon". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  18. ^ LetsRun.com. "Emma Bates Talks Chicago, Team Boss, Team USA, Divorce, & Mental Health". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  19. ^ Kuzma, Cindy; Canter, Bette (2021-10-10). "7 American Women Finished in the Top 10 at the 2021 Chicago Marathon". Runner's World. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  20. ^ Lorge Butler, Sarah (2022-07-18). "Sara Hall Leads U.S. Women to Top-10 Finishes in the World Championships Marathon". Runner's World. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  21. ^ LetsRun.com. "Sharon Lokedi SHOCKS World, Wins 2022 New York City Marathon". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  22. ^ Johnson, Robert (2023-04-17). "American Emma Bates Runs the Race of Her Life at the 2023 Boston Marathon". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  23. ^ Shpigel, Ben (2023-04-17). "Emma Bates, the top American woman in Boston, finishes fifth". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  24. ^ LetsRun.com (2023-10-08). "Sifan Hassan Runs 2:13:44 to Win 2023 Chicago Marathon Six Weeks After Worlds Triple". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  25. ^ "Emma Bates to miss U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials". NBC Sports. 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  26. ^ "Emma Bates' Forest Fire - FloTrack". www.flotrack.org. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  27. ^ Trageser, Claire (2023-05-18). "Meet My Faster Half". Outside Online. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  28. ^ "greatrun.org Saturday 9 January 2016 - 2016 Events - Great Edinburgh Winter Run - Great Edinburgh XCountry International Challenge Women Results" (PDF). Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  29. ^ "Team USATF competes at 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships". Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  30. ^ "Marathon Result | World Athletics Championships, Oregon 2022". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  31. ^ "2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships results". Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  32. ^ "2015 USATF Outdoor Championships". Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  33. ^ Watch 2015 US Outdoor Championships
  34. ^ 2015 Road Championship in Boston
  35. ^ 2015 Road 10km Championship in Boston
  36. ^ 2015 Road 12 km Championship in Alexandria
  37. ^ 2015 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships women results
  38. ^ 2018 USATF Road Championship in Atlanta
  39. ^ 2018 US Road 10km Championship in Atlanta results
  40. ^ Emma Bates Wins California International Marathon for Camp Fire Relief, Runners World, Taylor Dutch, December 2, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  41. ^ 2018 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships results
  42. ^ "IAAF Profile for Emma J Bates". Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  43. ^ 2013 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships 5000 m results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  44. ^ 2014 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships 3000 m results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  45. ^ 2014 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships 5000 m results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  46. ^ 2013 Division I Cross Country Championships results. Track and Field News. Retrieved on March 2, 2016
  47. ^ 2014 Division I Cross Country Championship results. Track and Field News. Retrieved on March 2, 2016
  48. ^ 2012 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championship results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  49. ^ 2013 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  50. ^ 2014 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships 5000 m results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  51. ^ 2014 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships 1500 m results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  52. ^ 2015 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  53. ^ 2012 Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championship 1500 mresults. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  54. ^ 2012 Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championship 5000 m results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  55. ^ 2013 Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships 3000 m results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  56. ^ 2013 Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships mile results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  57. ^ 2014 Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  58. ^ 2010 Western Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  59. ^ 2011 Mountain West Conference Cross Country Championships results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  60. ^ 2013 Mountain West Conference Cross Country Championships results. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  61. ^ 2014 Mountain West Conference Cross Country Championships results. Retrieved March 3, 2016

External links