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Kate Grace

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Kate Grace
Kate Grace in 2018
Personal information
Born (1988-10-24) October 24, 1988 (age 36)
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight122 lb (55 kg)
Sport
Country United States
Event(s)1500 metres, 800 metres
College teamYale Bulldogs
ClubNike
Turned pro2011
Coached bySelf
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)800 m: 1:57.20 (2021)
1500 m: 4:01.33 (2021)
Mile: 4:20.70 (2018)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  United States
NACAC Championships in Athletics
Gold medal – first place 2018 Toronto 1500 m
World Relay Championships
Silver medal – second place 2014 Nassau 4 × 1500 m relay

Kate Grace (born October 24, 1988) is an American middle-distance runner. A multiple All-American runner for Yale University, she turned professional in 2011. Grace competed for the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics, making it to the final of the 800 metres.

Prep

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Grace was a multiple-league champion in high school for Marlborough School in Los Angeles. She won 2005, 2006 and 2007 CIF Southern Section Division IV 800 metres titles and placed 3rd at 800 meters in the CIF State Track and Field Championships in 2006. She set a high school personal best of 2:10.31[1] at Cerritos College in 2006.[2]

As a senior, Grace won the 2006 CIF Southern Section Division IV Cross country running title, qualified to California Interscholastic Federation State Cross country running Championships,[3] Grace led Marlborough to a team CIF State Cross country running Championship title, won CIF state cross country division four championships title in 18:24.[4]

College

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Attending Yale University, Grace broke four school records, won six Heps championships (one as a member of a relay team), and was a four-time NCAA Division I Track and Field and Cross country All-American.[5][6][7][8] She graduated from Yale in 2011 with a degree in environmental studies, where she was a member of Skull and Bones.[9]

NCAA championships

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Outdoor track and field

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing Yale
2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Fayetteville, Arkansas 17th 800 m 2:08.50[10][11]
2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 7th 800 m 2:05.92[12]
2011 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 5th 800 m 2:04.22[13]

Indoor track and field

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing Yale
2009 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships College Station, Texas 8th 800 m 2:07.77[14]
2011 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships College Station, Texas 13th Mile 4:43:07[15]

Professional

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Grace joined the New Jersey-New York Track Club in 2011, training under legendary coach Frank "Gags" Gagliano.

In 2012, Grace signed with Oiselle, a running apparel company based out of Seattle. Grace was the first runner that Oiselle signed, preceding an eventual full roster of professional runners, including Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman. Grace competed in the 800 and 1,500 meters at the 2012 Olympic Trials, but placed 20th in the 1500 and did not qualify for the final.[16]

While working with Gagliano, Grace continued to improve her times on the track and won the 2013 USA road mile championship — her first national title. Grace won the 2013 USA 1 Mile Road Championship Grand Blue Mile. She placed 4th in the 800 meters at the 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[17]

Grace placed 11th in the 1500 meters in the 2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California.[18][19] Grace was part of Team USA setting an American and North American record at the 2014 IAAF World Relays – Women's 4 × 1500 metres relay in 16:55.33. In 2014, Grace left New Jersey and Gagliano for Bend, Oregon where she began to train with Lauren Fleshman.

In 2015, Grace battled foot injuries that took her out of the racing season. She moved to Sacramento, California in July 2015 to join the NorCal Distance Project.

Grace ran 4:06.75 in the 1500 meters at the 2016 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix – a time qualifier for Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Grace was second in the New York Armory Women's Mile Elite – New Balance Games 2016 after leading teammate Kim Conley for 1500 meters.[20][21][22]

Grace placed 5th in 4:22.7 at the 2016 Fifth Avenue Mile.[23] Grace improved her personal best to 1:58.28 at Weltklasse Zürich of 2016 IAAF Diamond League in a fifth-place finish.[24]

Grace placed first in the 800 m at the 2016 United States Olympic Track and Field Trials, making her first Olympic team. She competed for the US in Rio, where she set a personal best of 1:58.79 in the semifinal. Grace ultimately placed eighth in the 800 metres final.

In January 2017, Grace moved to Nike as a sponsored athlete. She wore the Nike kit for the first time in competition during the University of Washington Invitational.[25] Grace ran a personal best 4:22.93 mile on February 11, 2017, at the Millrose Games. Grace placed second in 1000 meters in 2:36.97 at 2017 Indoor muller Grand Prix at Birmingham behind Laura Muir.[26] Grace won the 800 meters in 2:01.25 at the 2017 Portland Twilight. Grace placed third in 1500 meters in 4:16.62 at 2017 Drake Relays behind Jennifer Simpson and Brenda Martinez.[27] Grace placed 7th in the 1500 meters in 4:03.59 in Eugene at 2017 Prefontaine Classic on May 27.[28][29] Grace placed second in a time of 4:06.95 in the 1500 meters final at 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Grace placed 23rd in the 1500 semifinal in a time of 4:16.70 of the 2017 World Championships.

In September 2017, Grace joined Coach Jerry Schumacher and the Bowerman Track Club.

In February 2018, Grace placed second behind teammate Colleen Quigley in the Wanamaker Mile at Millrose Games. In August 2018, Grace set a championship record in winning the 2018 NACAC Championships 1500 m in 4:06.23 at the Varsity Stadium, Toronto.

In July 2019, Grace won The Match Europe v USA 1500 m in 4:02.49. Grace scored nine points to help Team USA win in Minsk at Dinamo National Olympic Stadium.

In early 2021, Grace announced her departure from Bowerman Track Club on Instagram and soon after joined Team Boss, coached by Joe Bosshard.[30][31] Grace competed at the 2021 US Olympic Trials, but did not qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. However, she won the 800m Wanda Diamond League in Oslo,[32] won the Millicent Fawcett Mile in Gateshead, ran three personal bests over the course of the summer in the 800 m,[31] got second place in the Wanda Diamond League Final, and finished the year in third place in the World Athletics rankings for the event in her most successful season to date.[33]

After a nearly a three year hiatus from competition due to long COVID and pregnancy, Grace returned to racing in 2024.[34] She placed 8th in the final of the 800m at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.[35]

Personal

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Grace is the daughter of fitness instructor and entrepreneur Kathy Smith.[36]

Grace and her husband have one son, River, born in March 2023.[37]

Competition record

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USA National Championships

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Road

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2013 USA 1 Mile Championships Des Moines, Iowa 1st Mile 4:43.02[38]

Track and Field

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2012 US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 20th 800 m 2:04.28[39]
20th 1500 m 4:12.92[40]
2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 4th 800 m 2:00.10[41]
2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sacramento, California 11th 1500 m 4:18.97[19][42]
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 19th 1500 m 4:36.46[43]
2016 US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 1st 800 m 1:59.10
2016 Summer Olympics Rio de Janeiro 8th 800 m 1:59.57[44]
2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sacramento, California 2nd 1500 m 4:06.95[45]
2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 10th 1500 m 4:26.70[46]
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 3rd 1500 m 4:07.04[47]
2019 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Staten Island, New York 10th Mile 4:36.08
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 5th 1500 m 4:03.08
2021 US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 7th 800 m 1:59.17
2024 US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 8th 800 m 2:02.37

Personal bests

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Surface Event Time Date Location
Outdoor track 800 m 1:57.20 July 9, 2021 Diamond League, Monaco
1500 m 4:03.59 May 27, 2017 Eugene, Oregon
Indoor track 800 m 2:02.29 January 28, 2017 Dempsey Indoor Track, Seattle
1500 m 4:04.86 February 11, 2017 Millrose Games New York City
Mile 4:22.93 February 11, 2017 Millrose Games New York City
3000 m 8:47.26 January 14, 2017 Dempsey Indoor Track, Seattle, Washington
Road Mile 4:22.7 September 3, 2016 New York Road Runners New York City

References

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  1. ^ "2006 CIF state track championships". Archived from the original on 2018-10-02. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
  2. ^ Marlborough School track and field 800 meter success over the last 12 years
  3. ^ Picture of Marlborough School Senior Kate Grace November 18, 2006 winning CIF SS XC title
  4. ^ 2006 CIF State Cross Country Championships Athletic.net. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "Endurance sports – Olympic medal a driving factor for Kate Grace". Espn.go.com. 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  6. ^ "Kate Grace". Yale Bulldogs. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  7. ^ "Yale : Kate Grace". Archived from the original on 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2015-10-31.
  8. ^ "Kate Grace". TFRRS. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  9. ^ "USA Track & Field | Kate Grace". USATF.
  10. ^ 2009 Women's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Retrieved February 15, 2018
  11. ^ 2009 Women's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships 800 m prelim results. Flash Results. Retrieved February 15, 2018
  12. ^ 2010 Women's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Retrieved November 1, 2015
  13. ^ 2011 Women's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Retrieved November 1, 2015
  14. ^ 2009 Women's Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships. Retrieved February 15, 2018
  15. ^ Kate Grace TFRRS profile. Retrieved November 1, 2015
  16. ^ "Results". USATF. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019.
  17. ^ "oiselle haute volée | kate grace | Oiselle Running Apparel for Women". Oiselle.com. 1988-10-24. Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  18. ^ "Kate Grace '11 to Compete in USA Track and Field Championships". Yale Bulldogs. 2014-06-26. Archived from the original on 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  19. ^ a b "2014 USA Track & Field Championships : Women 100m". Usatf.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  20. ^ Women's Mile Elite - New Balance Games 2016 recap
  21. ^ Women's Mile Elite - New Balance Games 2016 video
  22. ^ New Balance Games 2016 elite results
  23. ^ New Balance 5th Avenue Mile Professional Women[permanent dead link‍] nyrrc.org. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  24. ^ IAAF Diamond League Zürich (SUI) 31 August - 1 September 2016 Results 800m Women[permanent dead link‍] http://zurich.diamondleague.com/. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  25. ^ Dutch, Taylor (2017-01-28). "Kate Grace Signs With Nike". FloTrack. FloSports, Inc. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  26. ^ 1000 Metres Women Müller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham Great Britain & N.I. Birmingham (Barclaycard), GBR, Great Britain & N.I. 18 Feb 2017 Published by IAAF. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  27. ^ 2017 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee Date: 04/26 - 04/29/17 Location: Drake Stadium - Des Moines, IA Women's 1500 Meters Special Hy-Vee. Retrieved May 29, 2017
  28. ^ After Breakthrough Year, Grace Looks For More - RRW Published by Race Results Weekly – http://preclassic.runnerspace.com/. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  29. ^ 1500 Metres Women Prefontaine Classic United States Eugene (Hayward Field), OR, United States 27 May 2017 Published by IAAF. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  30. ^ "Instagram".
  31. ^ a b "The Summer of Kate Grace Continues - Women's Running". Women's Running. July 21, 2021. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  32. ^ l'équipe
  33. ^ "World Rankings | Women's 800m (600m-1000m)".
  34. ^ "7 Keys to Recovery From an Elite Runner Who Experienced Long COVID - Runner's World". Runner's World. June 1, 2022. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  35. ^ "2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field". USATF. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  36. ^ Crouse, Lindsay (August 16, 2016). "Inspiring Her Daughter, an Olympic Runner, Was No Sweat for a Fitness Guru". The New York Times.
  37. ^ "Instagram".
  38. ^ 2013 USA 1 Mile Road Championships results. Retrieved on November 1, 2015
  39. ^ "USA Track & Field - 2012 Olympic Trials 800 m Results - Full". Usatf.org. June 23, 2012. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  40. ^ "USA Track & Field - 2012 Olympic Trials 1500 m Results - Full". Usatf.org. June 29, 2012. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  41. ^ "2013 USA Track & Field - Results - Full". Usatf.org. Archived from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  42. ^ "2014 USATF Championships". Usatf.org. Archived from the original on 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  43. ^ "USA Track & Field - 2014 Indoor USA Track & Field - Visa Championship Series". Usatf.org. Archived from the original on 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  44. ^ "Rio 2016 800m women Results - Olympic athletics".
  45. ^ "USA Track & Field - 2017 USATF Championships at Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, California". Usatf.org. June 25, 2017. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  46. ^ "USA Track & Field - 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships 1500 m Results - Full". Usatf.org. February 18, 2018. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  47. ^ "USA Track & Field - 2018 US Track and Field Championships 1500 m Results - Full". Usatf.org. June 29, 2018. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
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