Purrier Signs with New Balance, Aims for Nationals

DURHAM, N.H. – Former University of New Hampshire track & field standout and 11-time All American Elinor Purrier (Montgomery, Vt.) has signed a professional contract to run with the New Balance Boston team coached by former Olympian Mark Coogan.

Purrier and a fellow former Wildcat All American, Mike Shanahan (Dover, N.H.), are in Des Moines, Iowa this week to compete at the prestigious USA Track & Field Outdoor Nationals at Drake University.

Coogan made the announcement of Purrier's signing in Des Moines.

Robert Hoppler, Purrier's coach at UNH over the last five years, was excited about the news.

"I'm tremendously proud of everything Elle has accomplished at the University of New Hampshire and very excited she's able to move on and join New Balance Boston, one of the premier groups in the country," Hoppler said. "I'm positive she'll continue to have the highest level of success. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat and we all wish her the best in the future."

Purrier is represented by Flynn Sports.

She will race in the first round of the 1500 meter event Thursday at 4:35 p.m. Eastern time. The finals of the 1500 are Saturday at 4:46 p.m.

Shanahan will compete in the hammer throw Friday at 4:20 Eastern.

Purrier and Shanahan closed out their UNH careers with All American finishes at 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., two weeks ago.

THE COMPETITION

The best athletes in the country are competing in Des Moines.

Purrier has turned in a personal best time of 4 minutes, 10.08 seconds in the 1500, which is the 22^nd best seed time of 30 women in the field for the 1500. She hit that mark in the semifinals of the NCAA Championships.

Shelby Houlihan has the top seeded time of 3:59.06.

Shanahan is the 14^th seed in the hammer throw in a field of 18 competitors with a best effort of 69.32 meters. The top seed is Sean Donnelly at 76.96 meters.

ALL AMERICANS

Purrier finished seventh in the 1500 meters in Eugene to earn All American honors for the 11^th time as a Wildcat.
She was a first-team All American at the Outdoor Championships each of the four times she competed there.
The first three times she earned All American awards in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
Purrier won the NCAA championship in the mile at the Indoor Championships at College Station, Texas in March.
She was also an All American in the 3000 at the Indoor championships.
Shanahan finished 13^th to earn second-team All American honors in the hammer throw in Eugene.
He was seventh at the Indoor championships to earn first-team All American honors.

WILDCAT CROSS COUNTRY

The UNH men's and women's cross country teams swing back into action on Friday, Aug. 31.
The Wildcats open the season with a traditional Labor Day weekend home meet, their only home meet of the season.
They will play host to Providence, Holy Cross, Dartmouth and Brown that day.

Allen Lessels
@UNHInsider
Allen.Lessels@unh.edu

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