It’s been a long time since Erin Donohue ran like this. After years of injuries, surgeries and rehab, it sure looks like the former Haddonfield Bulldog and U.S. Olympian is back.
And almost as good as ever.
Donohue made an astonishing return to the Armory this weekend and finished second in a loaded mile in the Armory Track Invitational with a 4:29.67, just half a second behind Canadian Gabriela Stafford, who won in 4:29.07.
How fast is 4:29.67?
√ Donohue now ranks fifth among U.S. women this indoor season in the mile. Here’s a look at the top five:
- 4:26.01 … Shannon Rowbury
- 4:27.88 … Kim Conley
- 4:28.30 … Kate Grace
- 4:28.47 … Stephanie Garcia
- 4:29.67 … Erin Donohue
√ Her time is also No. 6 on the 2016 indoor world list, according to the IAAF:
- 4:26.01 … Shannon Roxbury (USA)
- 4:27.88 … Kim Conley (USA)
- 4:28.30 … Kate Grace (USA)
- 4:28.47 … Stephanie Garcia (USA)
- 4:29.07 … Gabrielle Stafford (Canada)
- 4:29.67 … Erin Donohue (USA)
√ Donohue raced within a second of her indoor PR of 4:28.92 set on the same Armory track more than six years ago at the 2010 New Balance Elite meet and was only about three seconds off her overall PR of 4:26.48, set eight years ago in Rieti, Italy.
√ The performance was Donohue’s fastest indoors since that 4:28.92. She hasn’t run this fast outdoors since 2009! That summer she ran 4:27.91.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 