Elle Purrier St. Pierre - The Farmer
TRACK & FIELD - RUNNER - 1500m - OLYMPICS -
TEAM USA - UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
ARCHETYPE: THE FARMER
Day 119/135
Athletic Accomplishments
Elle Purrier St. Pierre is an American long distance runner, officially headed to Tokyo to run the 1500m for Team USA.
Purrier St. Pierre grew up on a dairy farm in Vermont, and became a track and cross-country standout in high school. She was a two-time cross-country state champion, and the 2012 Northeast Regional champion. In outdoor track, she was a multi-year and event state champion, who still holds five state records.
In college, Purrier St. Pierre ran for the University of New Hampshire, where she won the mile in the 2018 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. She was also an 11-time All-American.
As a pro, Purrier St. Pierre has proven herself to be quite the competitor, getting better, stronger, and fitter with every race. Her times and placing have improved significantly. Take, for example, the 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where she finished 6th in the 1500 meters, with a time of 4:09.30. Last week, she ran a 3:58.03—almost 10 seconds faster—winning the Olympic qualifying race, breaking the meet record, and smashing her PR.
At the 2020 Millrose Games, she not only won the mile, but set the indoor American record, at 4:16.85.
Purrier St. Pierre also won the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix two-mile race, setting an American record and running the third fastest women’s time ever (9:10.28).
The point is, she’s fast and only getting faster. Peaking at the right time. If she runs as well as she has been, Purrier St. Pierre is poised to bring home a medal from Tokyo.
Character Archetype: The Farmer
Elle Purrier St. Pierre is officially going to Tokyo. At last week’s Olympic trials, she raced her ass off, leading the 1500m from gun to tape. She ran her personal best, 3:58, and broke the meet record… while it was 94 freaking degrees outside!
At the crack of dawn or the firing pistol, Purrier St. Pierre is used to getting off to an early start. Because—as I’m sure you’ll hear at the Olympics—she grew up on a dairy farm in Vermont, milking cows before school and helping out after she got home. Hard work is nothing new for this farmhand.
In her post-race interview, she said, “I just wanted to get out there, make it honest, make it fast. I’m so fucking excited!” No bleep. But let her have that one F-bomb on live television.
Because you don’t become a long distance runner for the glory. You do it because you like the work. The effort. The grind.
Humble beginnings, sure. But Purrier St. Pierre is a strong closer, too, with a kick that may just get her onto the podium in Tokyo. Hard work is a virtue. Can’t wait to see her milk it for all it’s worth.