Leah Falland (née O'Connor; born 30 August 1992) is an American steeplechase runner and NCAA DI indoor track and field championships record holder in the mile run.
_(cropped).jpg) Falland leading Shelby Houlihan and Colleen Quigley at the 2015 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Leah O'Connor |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | August 30, 1992[1] |
| Home town | Croswell, Michigan[2] |
| Height | 171 cm (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)[1] |
| Weight | 55 kg (121 lb)[1] |
| Website | https://leahkayo.wordpress.com/ |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | 3000 metres steeplechase, mile run |
| College team | Michigan State Spartans[2] |
| Club | On Athletics Club |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best |
|
Biography
O'Connor was raised in Croswell, Michigan where she first learned to run on her family farm.[3] She attended Croswell-Lexington High School and was state champion in the 800 m and 1600 m.[2]
She competed collegiately for the Michigan State Spartans track and field and cross country teams starting in 2011, and qualified for the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships every year from 2012 to 2015.[2]
Her best NCAA finishes were 1st in the steeplechase at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and 1st at the 2015 NCAA Indoor championships mile run in a championship record time of 4:27.18.[2][4][5]
O'Connor competed in the 2016 United States Olympic Trials, where she won her semi-final of the women's steeplechase despite competing with a torn plantar fascia.[6][1] She was 14th in the final the next day.[6] In 2018, Falland set the Drake Relays record in the steeplechase with a time of 9:32.23.[7]
At the 2021 United States Olympic trials, Falland tripped and fell in the steeplechase final, finishing 9th and failing again to qualify for the Olympic team.[8]
From August 2020 to October 2022, Falland was a member of the professional training group On Athletics Club and was coached by Dathan Ritzenhein.[9]
Statistics
Personal bests
| Event | Mark | Competition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3000 metres steeplechase | 9:16.96 | Stockholm Diamond League | Stockholm, Sweden | 4 July 2021 |
| Mile run | 4:27.18i | 2015 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships | Fayetteville, Arkansas | 14 March 2015 |