Emma Bates facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Emma Bates

Bates at the 2023 Chicago Marathon
Personal information
Born	(1992-07-08) July 8, 1992 (age 33) Elk River, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m)
Sport
Country	United States
Event(s)	5000 m, 10,000 m, cross country running, road racing
College team	Boise State Broncos
Club	Asics
Turned pro	July 2015
Coached by	Joe Bosshard
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	1500 m: 4:16.37 (Walnut 2015) 3000 m: 9:08.78 i (New York 2017) 5000 m: 15:32.46 (Palo Alto 2015) 10000 m: 32:04.59 (Irvine 2021) Marathon: 2:22:10 a (Boston 2023)
Medal record Women's athletics Representing the  United States World Marathon Majors Silver 2021 Chicago Marathon

Emma Bates (born July 8, 1992) is an American long-distance runner. She is known for competing in marathons, which are very long races. Emma has achieved many great things in her running career.

For example, she won the USA Marathon Championships in 2018. She also placed second in the 2021 Chicago Marathon. In 2023, she finished fifth in the Boston Marathon. Emma even represented the United States at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. There, she ran her fastest marathon ever, finishing seventh.

Before becoming a professional runner, Emma competed for Boise State University. She was a top athlete there, earning the title of All-American 12 times. She won a big college race, the 10,000 meters, in 2014. Emma started running professionally in 2015. She now has a sponsorship deal with the sports company Asics.

Emma's Running Journey

Starting Out: High School and College

Emma Bates started running when she was in 6th grade. Her parents encouraged her to run to use up her energy. She went to Elk River High School in Minnesota. In her last year, she helped her team win a state title in cross country. She also finished second in the state championships herself.

Emma remembers that her training in high school was pretty relaxed. She once said that on easy days, she and her teammates would sometimes go get donuts instead of running!

After high school, Emma went to Boise State University in Idaho. She became a 12-time All-American athlete. This means she was one of the best college athletes in the country. She was especially good at the 10,000-meter race. She placed third in this event in 2013. Then, in 2014, she won first place! Her winning time in 2014 was one of the fastest ever in that championship.

In cross country, Emma finished second in the 2013 NCAA Championships. She also placed third in the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Becoming a Professional Runner

Early Professional Years (2015-2017)

After college, Emma became a professional runner in July 2015. She joined a group called the Boston Athletic Association (BAA). This meant she moved to Boston, Massachusetts. During this time, Emma ran in many different types of races.

In 2016, she ran her fastest 1500-meter race. She also ran a ten-mile race in 56 minutes. In 2017, Emma started focusing on longer races, like the half marathon. She won her first half marathon race in October 2017.

However, Emma faced some tough times in her first few years as a professional. She told ESPN that she wasn't enjoying life or running as much. By the end of 2017, she decided to leave the BAA. She moved back to Idaho and started a new training group.

Emma Bates at the Des Moines Half Marathon in 2017, her first race at this distance.

Big Wins and New Sponsors (2018-2019)

In 2018, Emma competed in many road races across the U.S. She earned enough points from her high finishes to win the 2018 USATF Running Circuit. This circuit gives points to athletes based on how well they finish in races.

Emma also ran two half marathons in 2018. She improved her personal best time in the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. She was the fastest American woman in that race.

The biggest moment of 2018 was when Emma ran her first-ever marathon. This was the California International Marathon in December. It was also the USA Marathon Championships. Emma won the race, even though she felt sick during the second half! She trained very hard for this race, running over 100 miles each week.

In January 2019, Emma got a professional sponsorship deal from Asics. This is a big sports company. She finished fourth in the New York City Half Marathon that year. Two months later, she came third in the USA Half Marathon Championships. In October 2019, Emma ran her second marathon, the Chicago Marathon. She finished fourth and was the first American woman to cross the finish line.

Emma Bates near the halfway point in the 2024 Boston Marathon.

Training Changes and Major Races (2020-2021)

In February 2020, Emma competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon. She finished seventh, which was not enough to qualify for the Olympics. After this, many races were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emma returned to racing in October 2020. She set a new personal best in the Michigan Pro Half Marathon. In April 2021, Emma moved to Boulder, Colorado. She joined a new training group called Team Boss. Later that year, in October, she competed in the Chicago Marathon again. She finished second, which was her first time on the podium in a World Marathon Major race.

World Championships and Boston Marathon (2022-2023)

In July 2022, Emma ran in the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. She finished seventh and set a new personal best time for the marathon. She was part of a strong group of American runners in that race. In November, she finished eighth in the New York City Marathon.

Emma ran two marathons in 2023. Her first was the Boston Marathon. She finished fifth and ran her fastest marathon time ever! She even led the race for a long time. However, her time in this race is not counted as a world record because the Boston Marathon course goes downhill overall. In October, she ran the Chicago Marathon. She finished 13th, struggling with foot pain in the second half of the race.

Recent Races (2024-2025)

In January 2024, Emma announced she would not run in the U.S. Olympic Trials. This was because of a foot injury she got during the 2023 Chicago Marathon. In April 2024, she was the top American woman to finish at the Boston Marathon, placing 12th overall.

In April 2025, Emma competed in the Boston Marathon again. She finished 13th overall and was the third American woman to finish.

Emma's Life Outside of Running

Emma Bates loves backpacking and hiking. She enjoys exploring the Sawtooth Range in Idaho. In 2017, she even moved to a cabin in the Boise National Forest. This cabin was very remote, with no TV or cell service. It had quiet trails perfect for running. In 2023, Outside Magazine wrote an article about Emma. It talked about how her partner helps her deal with the pressures of being a top athlete.

Competition Record

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing the  United States
2016	Great Edinburgh International Cross Country	Edinburgh, Scotland	28th	6 km	23:05
2018	2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships	Valencia, Spain	27th	Half Marathon	1:11:45
2022	2022 World Athletics Championships	Eugene, Oregon	7th	Marathon	2:23:18
Representing Boise State Broncos
2014	USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Sacramento, California	6th	10,000 meters	32:51.49
2015	USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Eugene, Oregon	11th	10,000 meters	34:02.65
Representing Boston Athletic Association
2015	USA Women's 10 km Road Championships	Boston, MA	16th	10 km	33:54
2015	USA Women's 12 km Road Championships	Alexandria, VA	10th	12 km	39:50
2015	USATF National Club Cross Country Championships	San Francisco, California	5th	6,000 meters	20:02
Unattached
2018	USA Women's 10 km Road Championships	Atlanta Georgia	6th	10 km	33:15
2018	USA Women's Marathon Championships	Sacramento, CA	1st	Marathon	2:28:18
2018	USATF National Club Cross Country Championships	Spokane, WA	8th	6,000 meters	19:56
Representing Asics
2019	USA Half Marathon Championships	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	3rd	Half-Marathon	1:11:13
	USA 25 km Road Championship	Grand Rapids, Michigan	1st	25 km	1:23:51
	Chicago Marathon	Chicago, Illinois	4th	Marathon	2:25:27
2020	US Olympic Marathon Trials	Atlanta Georgia	7th	Marathon	2:29:35
2021	USA 15 km Road Championship	Jacksonville, Florida	12th	15 km	50:42
2021	Chicago Marathon	Chicago, Illinois	2nd	Marathon	2:24:20
2022	New York City Marathon	New York, New York	8th	Marathon	2:26:53
2023	Boston Marathon	Boston, Massachusetts	5th	Marathon	2:22:10 PB
2024	Boston Marathon	Boston, Massachusetts	12th	Marathon	2:27:14
2025	Boston Marathon	Boston, Massachusetts	8th	Marathon	02:23:21

NCAA Championships

Outdoor Track and Field

Indoor Track and Field

Cross Country

Conference Championships

Outdoor Track and Field

Indoor Track and Field

Cross Country