24 Facts About Shelby Houlihan

Shelby Houlihan was born on February 8,1993 and is an American middle distance runner, Olympian and World Record holder in the 4x1500m relay.

Shelby Houlihan is a 12-time US National Champion winning seven indoor and five outdoor titles in middle-distance events.

Shelby Houlihan served a four year ban from 2021 to 2025 for an anti-doping rule violation after testing positive for nandrolone.

Shelby Houlihan held high school personal records of 4:43.64 in the one mile run, 2:07.35 in the 800 meter run, and 4:26.39 in the 1500 meter run.

Shelby Houlihan was the 2011 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year awards Girls Track and Field Runner of the Year and the 2010 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year awards Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Shelby Houlihan claimed eight Drake Relays crowns, while earning the title of Drake Relays Outstanding Female High School Performer for being the first female athlete from a high school to win three events in one year.

Shelby Houlihan was the 2014 NCAA champion in the 1500 meters at ASU as a junior.

Shelby Houlihan was the first student at Arizona State University to win a national individual title in the outdoor 1,500.

Shelby Houlihan was a 12-time NCAA Division I All-American, the second most in Arizona State history, and an NCAA Track champion.

Shelby Houlihan holds Arizona State Sun Devils school records in the 800 meters, 1500 meters, one mile, and 3000 meters.

Shelby Houlihan began competing for Nike and the Bowerman Track Club under coach Jerry Schumacher in 2015.

Shelby Houlihan was among seven women who were trained by Schumacher who made it to the Olympics.

Shelby Houlihan said of the moment, "I've been working for that moment my entire life and for it all to come together and happen was one of the most amazing experiences of my life".

Shelby Houlihan placed fourth in her heat in the 5000 m preliminary at the Olympics, qualifying her for the final.

Shelby Houlihan placed 11th in the 5000m final with a time of 15:08.89, finishing as the highest-placing American.

Shelby Houlihan placed 6th in 4:23.0 at the 2016 Fifth Avenue Mile.

Shelby Houlihan ran 15:00.37 to place 3rd in the preliminaries and ran 15:06.40 to place 13th in the final.

At the 2018 World Indoor Championships, making up more than 10 meters on the final lap, Shelby Houlihan passed Fantu Worku to place 5th in the 3000 meters final and 4th in 4:11.93 at the 1500 meters final for the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships after winning the 3000 meters and the 1500 meters titles at the 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On July 21,2018, Shelby Houlihan ran the 5000 m in 14:34.45 in Heusden, Belgium.

Shelby Houlihan placed second in the 1500 m at the 2018 IAAF Continental Cup.

At the 2019 World Outdoor Championships, Shelby Houlihan set a personal best and new American record of 3:54.99 in the final of the 1500m, finishing in 4th place.

On June 11,2021, Shelby Houlihan received a four-year ban, retroactive to January 14 of the same year, from the sport due to testing positive for nandrolone.

Shelby Houlihan returned to racing in February 2025, winning the indoor 3000 meters in 8:31.56 at the Razorback Invitational in Arkansas.

However, due to her ban from USATF events, organizers did not allow Shelby Houlihan to compete in the women's championship beer mile.