James Corrigan
James Corrigan made headlines in June 2024 when he qualified for the Paris Olympic Games.
At the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday, June 23, 2024, Corrigan finished with a time of 8:26.78, surprising crowds by finishing third. Although he placed third, he needed to meet the Olympic qualifying standard of 8:15.00.
Corrigan achieved the Olympic qualifying time on June 29 in a specially arranged, tailor-made 3,000-meter steeplechase race in Philadelphia, where he crossed the finish line with a time of 8:13.87, crushing the Olympic standard.[1] It is also the 13th-fastest time in the world in 2024 and the American collegiate record.[2]
Each country is allotted three spots and Corrigan was listed third.[3]
At the Olympics in the Men's 3000m steeplechase qualifying runs on August 5, 2024, Corrigan finished tenth in his heat. The top five in each heat moved on to the finals. His time was 8:36.67.
Corrigan won the 3,000-meter steeplechase on June 13, 2025, at the NCAA track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, taking the lead with less than 200 meters to go and pulling away from a field loaded with Kenyans. (Kenyans have won nine of the last 11 Olympic finals and 19 total medals. They make up nine of the 13 fastest steeplechasers of all-time.) He recorded a time of 8:16.41 to become the fourth-fastest collegian ever. In the process, he beat the event’s second-fastest collegian ever, Louisville’s Geoffrey Kirwa.[4]
Even though he has another year of NCAA eligibility remaining, his NCAA win may signal the end of his collegiate career. He already has an NIL (name, image, likeness) deal with Nike, and shoe companies will offer him a professional contract the moment he declares that he is finished with collegiate competition.[5]
Corrigan is majoring in mechanical engineering at Brigham Young University. He served as a full-time missionary in Antananarivo, Madagascar and Tempe, Arizona (2020-22). He married Ashley Nolan at the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple on Friday, July 5, 2024.[6]
