Former UMass star Heather MacLean finishes 7th in 1,500 meters at U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials

Former UMass star Heather MacLean was less than 400 meters away from a second consecutive Olympic berth on Sunday night.

The 28-year-old from Peabody, who qualified for the 2020 Olympics after taking third place in the 1,500 meters at the previous U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, made her way through the pack and found herself in second place with less than a lap remaining in the women’s 1,500 meters.

But a loaded field of runners set a blistering pace, and MacLean was unable to hold onto a top three spot in Eugene, Ore. She wound up seventh overall, posting what was still an impressive time of 3 minutes, 58.31 seconds.

Nikki Hiltz won the 1,500 in 3:55.33, and will be joined in Paris by runner-up Emily Mackay (3:55.90) and third-place finisher Ellie St. Pierre (3:55.99).

Eight runners from the field broke the four-minute mark.

MacLean was toward the back of the pack for the first two laps, and then made a move on the outside. By the bell lap, she was second behind only St. Pierre, who won the event at the Trials in 2021.