Providence College Athletics
Former Friar Emily Sisson Sets The U.S. Women’s Marathon Record
10/13/2022 8:45:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Sisson finishes second in the Chicago Marathon in a time on 2:18.29.
CHICAGO, Ill. – On Sunday, October 9, former Friar Emily Sisson set the U.S. women's marathon mark when she completed the 26.2 mile Chicago Marathon in the record time of 2:18.29. Sisson established the mark after finishing second overall in the race behind Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya, who won in a time of 2:14.18. Sisson bested the previous U.S. record set by Keira D'Amato by 43 seconds (2:19.12). D'Amato's record was established earlier this year at the Houston Marathon.
Sisson is one of the great all-time Friar runners. Over the course of her career at Providence, she won two NCAA 5,000-meter titles (Indoor and Outdoor in 2015), helped the cross country team win the 2013 NCAA title, earned 10 All-America accolades and won seven BIG EAST titles. She is one of only three Friars to have earned 10 All-America honors during her career.
Her career has continued to thrive since she left PC in 2015. She ran her first marathon in 2019 in London, where she placed sixth in a time of 2:23.08. In 2020, she won the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 10,000 meters. Sisson then placed 10th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 10,000 meters and became one of eight former Friar women to compete in the Olympic games. On May 7, 2022, she set the U.S. women's half marathon mark when she finished the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis in a time of 1:07.11.
One thing that has remained constant through all of Sisson's success is that she has been coached by long-time Friar Head Coach Ray Treacy. After competing at the University of Wisconsin during her freshman season, she transferred to Providence in 2011 to run under Coach Treacy. Treacy, who is in his 38th year coaching at his alma mater, has coached many Friar greats on the men's and women's side and was excited to have Sisson join the squad.
Even after her graduation from Providence, Sisson still continues to train under Coach Treacy's tutelage. In June, she left her altitude training in Arizona to run in Rhode lsland for five months prior to the Chicago Marathon. That decision and her strong workouts in the Ocean State paid off.
"Emily has great focus when the gun goes off," Treacy said. "She follows instructions so well in training and races. She has all the confidence in the plan. We established that she would follow the pacemaker for the first 20 miles. With four miles to go and the record in her sights, she told the pacemaker to quicken the pace. After that it was just a matter of running her race for the last few miles."
Coach Treacy feels that Sisson has a bit of well-deserved rest ahead of her as she recovers from Sunday's marathon, and then they will begin training for her next race.
