New Jersey legend Josette Norris turned the frustration of not making the U.S. Olympic Team into jubilation on Sunday night when she threw down one of the greatest 1,500 meter performances in U.S. history at the Sound Running Sunset Tour meet at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, California
In her first race since placing eighth in the 5000 at the Olympic Trials in Oregon last month, Norris, who graduated from NJ's Tenafly in 2014 and Georgetown in 2019, burned a 60.95 final 400 to overtake Jessica Hull on the way to an electrifying victory over a stacked field with a huge PR of 3:59.72! Hull, who will run the 1,500 for Australia at the Olympics in Tokyo, was second in 4:00.73, just off her Australian record of 4:00.42.
The 3:59.72 by Norris, which lowers her PR from 4:06.17, places her No. 9 on the all-time U.S. 1500 list, is the second fastest time by an American woman this season, and is No. 10 in the world this year!! Norris also shattered the NJ Alumni 1500 record of 4:03.49 that Erin Donohue ran in Rieti, Italy in 2010. Donohue, who graduated from Haddonfield High in 2001, was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in the 1500.
Norris, who runs for the Reebok Boston Track Club, has been absolutely crushing it this year as she been one of the biggest breakout distance running stars in the U.S.
Two months ago, Norris placed second in the 5,000 with a PR of 14:51.42 at a Sound Running Track Meet at Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine, Calif. That time is also No. 9 on the All-Time U.S. women's list, No. 1 on the U.S. list this season, and No. 17 in the World this season.
By running 3:59.72 and 14:51.42, Norris became just the fifth U.S. woman to run sub 4:00 in the 1500 and sub 15:00 for 5000, and she's just one of three U.S. women ranked in the Top 10 All-Time at both distances!
The U.S. Women's Sub 4/Sub 15 Club with their All-Time U.S. Rankings
Shelby Houlihan - 3:54.99 (1) / 14:23.92 (1)
Shannon Rowbury - 3:56.29 (2) / 14:38.92 (3)
Jenny Simpson - 3:57.22 (4) / 14:56.26 (18)
Elle Purrier St. Pierre - 3:58.03 (6) / 14:58.17 (22)
Josette Norris - 3:59.72 (9) / 14:51.42 (9)