MONTGOMERY, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermonter Elle Purrier St. Pierre on Tuesday morning advanced to the semifinals of the 1500 M at the Paris Olympics.
The Montgomery native finished third in the third heat, behind Nelly Chepchirchir, of Kenya, and Jessica Hull of Australia. Purrier will join the other two American qualifiers, Nikki Hiltz and Emily Mackay, along with top contenders Kenyan Faith Kipyegon, Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay, and Great Britain’s Laura Muir.
Purrier started her athletic career in middle school when she was in Girls on the Run, and in high school, she played basketball and soccer. She then raced at the University of New Hampshire.
It’s Purrier’s second time competing in the Olympics. Her hometown school put on a watch party for her in the school’s gym at 4 a.m. on Tuesday.
The semifinals are set for Thursday.