Steeplechase (athletics)
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The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.
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[edit] Rules
The length of the race is usually 3000 m. The number of laps depends on whether the water jump is located to the inside of lane one or to the outside of lane eight or nine. Each runner encounters a total of 28 barriers over the course of the race, as well as 7 water jumps. According to IAAF rules, barrier height is 914 mm (36 in) for men and 762 mm (30 in) for women. Unlike those used in hurdling, steeplechase barriers do not fall over if hit; some runners actually step on top of them. Four barriers are spaced around the track on level ground, and a fifth barrier at the top of the second turn (fourth barrier in a complete lap from the finish line) is the water jump, which consists of a barrier followed by a pit of water which is 3.66 m (12 ft) long and slopes upward from 700 mm (27.6 in) deep at the barrier end to even with the surface of the track. This slope rewards runners with more hurdling ability, because a longer jump results in a shallower landing in the water.
[edit] History
The event originated in the British Isles. Runners raced from one town's steeple to the next. The steeples were used as markers due to their visibility over long distances. Along the way runners inevitably had to jump creeks and low stone walls separating estates. The modern athletics event originates from a two-mile cross country steeplechase that formed part of the Oxford University sports (in which many of the modern athletics events were founded) in 1860. It was replaced in 1865 by an event over barriers on a flat field, which became the modern steeplechase. It has been an Olympic event since the inception of the modern Olympics, though with varying lengths. Since the 1968 Summer Olympics the steeplechase in the Olympics has been dominated by Kenyan athletes, including a clean sweep of the medals at the 2004 Games.
The steeplechase for women (3,000 metres long, but with lower barriers than for the men) made its first major championship appearance at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki.
[edit] World Record Progression
The official world record in the 3000 m steeplechase for men is held by Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar (formerly Stephen Cherono of Kenya) at 7:53.63 and was set on September 3, 2004 during the Memorial van Damme in Brussels. On August 16, 2002 Brahim Boulami of Morocco ran 7:53.17 but this has not been ratified by the IAAF owing to Boulami being banned for two years in 2003 after testing positive for EPO.
The first person to run the steeplechase in under eight minutes was Moses Kiptanui of Kenya who ran it in 7:58.18 on August 16, 1995 in Zurich, Switzerland.
The official world record in the 3000 m steeplechase for women is held by Gulnara Samitova of Russia at 9:01.59 and was set in 2003.
[edit] Manual timing
[edit] Electronic timing
| TIME | ATHLETE | VENUE | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:05.35 | Image:Flag of Kenya.svg Peter Koech (KEN) | Stockholm | 1989-07-03 |
| 8:02.08 | Image:Flag of Kenya.svg Moses Kiptanui (KEN) | Zürich | 1992-08-19 |
| 7:59.18 | Image:Flag of Kenya.svg Moses Kiptanui (KEN) | Zürich | 1995-08-16 |
| 7:59.08 | Image:Flag of Kenya.svg Wilson Boit Kipketer (KEN) | Zürich | 1997-08-13 |
| 7:55.72 | Image:Flag of Kenya.svg Bernard Barmasai (KEN) | Cologne | 1997-08-24 |
| 7:55.28 | Image:Flag of Morocco.svg Brahim Boulami (MAR) | Brussels | 2001-08-24 |
| 7:53.63 | Image:Flag of Qatar.svg Saif Saaeed Shaheen (QAT) | Brussels | 2004-09-03 |
[edit] European Record Progression
[edit] Best Year Performance
[edit] Men's Seasons Best (Outdoor)
[edit] Women's Seasons Best (Outdoor)
| YEAR | TIME | ATHLETE | PLACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 10:23.47 | Image:Flag of the United States.svg Courtney Meldrum (USA) | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 1997 | 10:30.90 | Image:Flag of the United States.svg Melissa Teemant (USA) | Indianapolis |
| 1998 | 9:55.28 | Image:Flag of Romania.svg Daniela Petrescu (ROM) | Bucharest |
| 1999 | 9:48.88 | Image:Flag of Russia.svg Yelena Motalova (RUS) | Tula |
| 2000 | 9:48.88 | Image:Flag of Romania.svg Cristina Casandra (ROM) | Reims |
| 2001 | 9:44.36 | Image:Flag of Poland.svg Justyna Bak (POL) | Poznan |
| 2002 | 9:16.51 | Image:Flag of Belarus.svg Alesya Turova (BLR) | Gdánsk |
| 2003 | 9:08.33 | Image:Flag of Russia.svg Gulnara Samitova (RUS) | Tula |
| 2004 | 9:01.59 | Image:Flag of Russia.svg Gulnara Samitova (RUS) | Iraklio |
| 2005 | 9:15.04 | Image:Flag of Uganda.svg Dorcus Inzikuru (UGA) | Athens |
| 2006 | 9:17.15 | Image:Flag of Poland.svg Wioletta Janowska (POL) | Athens |
| 2007 | 9:06.57 | Image:Flag of Russia.svg Yekaterina Volkova (RUS) | Osaka |
[edit] National records
- As of 2007-10-27
[edit] External links
- IAAF rules
- International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) – official site
- World Record progression in athletics
- World Masters Athletics - official site
- Masters T&F World Rankings
- Athletics all-time performances
- Women's Steeplechase
| Athletics events | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Sprints: 60 m | 100 m | 200 m | 400 m Hurdles: 60 m hurdles | 100 m hurdles | 110 m hurdles | 400 m hurdles Middle distance: 800 m | 1500 m | 3000 m | steeplechase Long distance: 5,000 m | 10,000 m | half marathon | marathon | ultramarathon | multiday races | Cross country running Relays: 4 × 100 m | 4 × 400 m; Racewalking; Wheelchair racing Throws: Discus | Hammer | Javelin | Shot put Jumps: High jump | Long jump | Pole vault | Triple jump Combination: Pentathlon | Heptathlon | Decathlon | Triathlon | Duathlon | Biathlon Highly uncommon: Standing high jump | Standing long jump | Standing triple jump | ||
cs:Běh na 3000 metrů překážek da:3000 meter forhindringsløb de:Hindernislauf et:3000 m takistusjooks es:Carreras con obstáculos fr:Steeple it:Siepi (atletica) ja:3000メートル障害 pl:Bieg na 3000 m z przeszkodami pt:3000 metros com obstáculos fi:Estejuoksu sv:Hinderlöpning
