When the women’s 1500 meters was finishing on Saturday afternoon at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the television cameras were focused on the leader and eventual winner, Jenny Simpson, who pulled away from Kate Grace down the final stretch.
But the internet was focused on what was happening in the battle for third place.
Sara Vaughn, a 31-year-old mother of three and a realtor who works and trains in Boulder, Colorado, was mounting a furious final kick. She crossed the line in 4:07.85, just 0.28 seconds ahead of fourth place. She gave a breathless post-race interview on NBC where she greeted each of her three daughters and told them she is bringing them to London, where she’ll be representing Team USA at the world championships.
And her fellow pro runners, who know of Vaughn’s efforts to keep training while raising a family and working, took to social media to applaud her achievement.
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Above, an interview after the race with Sara Vaughn.
Sarah Lorge Butler is a writer and editor living in Eugene, Oregon, and her stories about the sport, its trends, and fascinating individuals have appeared in Runner’s World since 2005. She is the author of two popular fitness books, Run Your Butt Off! and Walk Your Butt Off!
