The basics of the always exciting 3,000m steeplechase at the Olympics
The men's and women's 3,000m steeplechase are two of the most exciting races on the track as it features water jumps and hurdling barriers.
The men’s and women’s 3,000m steeplechase are two of the most exciting races to watch in track and field. The event, which involves hurdling four barriers per lap as well as clearing a water pit, has falls, big finishes and lots of “pain faces.” It will be no different at the Rio Olympics.
RELATED: Must watch athletics events featuring top Canadian contenders.
When
Women’s 3,000m steeplechase:
Prelims: 9:05 a.m. EDT – Aug. 13
Finals: 10:15 a.m. EDT – Aug. 15
Men’s 3,000m steeplechase:
Prelims: 9:25 a.m. – Aug. 15
Finals: 10:50 a.m. – Aug. 17
The basics
The steeplechase is one of the most unique races in athletics as it’s a long-distance race run over barriers and a water pit. Because the water pit is placed on the inner or outer edge of the track, athletes run more or less than the typical seven-and-a-half laps for the 3,000m.
There are 28 barriers and seven water jumps in the men’s and women’s 3,000m steeplechase. Though the two disciplines have an equal amount of barriers, the hurdle height for the women is lower than that of the men’s race. The winning time for men is typically around 8:00 for men and 9:15 for women.
The event has historically been dominated by the Kenyans.
Athletes do not typically clear the water pit on each lap but rather take one step in the water while trying to continue their momentum forward. Special spikes are designed to filter out water. The added moisture on the track sometimes leads to some big falls and collisions with the hurdles making it exciting for even a non-running fan.
What going over the water pit looks like
The Canadians
A country is allowed three athletes per event and Athletics Canada sent a full six-person squad in the steeplechase. The contingent includes both the men’s and women’s Canadian record holders, Geneviève Lalonde and Matt Hughes, and the two national champions, Erin Teschuk and Taylor Milne.
The fact that Canada has a full team of six athletes bodes well for having at least one Canadian in the final of the event. For tomorrow’s women’s 3,000m steeplechase, Lalonde and Maria Bernard have the advantage of being in heat two and three. It’s an advantage because six athletes can get a spot in the final based solely on their time and not their place. Seeing what athletes run in previous races helps because athletes know how fast they need to run.
The top three from each of the three heats get an automatic spot into the final, regardless of their time. Runners are divided into three heats based on time so all three are relatively equal.
Hughes is the most likely of all six to make the final as he placed eighth at the 2015 world championships and won the Pan Am Games gold in the event. Milne represented Canada at the 2008 Olympics and Chris Winter will make his Olympic debut.
Footage from the 2015 world championships:
Start list
FIRST 3 IN EACH HEAT (Q) AND THE NEXT 6 FASTEST (Q)
HEAT 1 13 AUG 2016 9:05 a.m. EDT
ORDER / LANE | BIB | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | SB 2016 | PB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 998 | Fadwa SIDI MADANE | MAR | 9:33.97 | 9:27.87 |
2 | 846 | Kerry O’FLAHERTY | 9:45.53 | 9:42.61 | |
3 | 394 | Sviatlana KUDZELICH | 9:41.21 | 9:27.95 | |
4 | 955 | Lydia Chebet ROTICH | 9:23.49 | 9:18.03 | |
5 | 627 | Diana MARTÍN | 9:41.23 | 9:30.70 | |
6 | 760 | Gesa Felicitas KRAUSE | 9:18.85 | 9:18.85 | |
7 | 921 | Anju TAKAMIZAWA | 9:44.22 | 9:44.22 | |
8 | 1071 | Ingeborg LØVNES | 9:43.97 | 9:43.97 | |
9 | 1262 | Özlem KAYA | 9:35.05 | 9:30.23 | |
10 | 638 | Sofia ASSEFA | 9:18.16 | 9:09.00 | |
11 | 1306 | Mariya SHATALOVA | 9:38.17 | 9:36.87 | |
12 | 1367 | Colleen QUIGLEY | 9:21.29 | 9:21.29 | |
13 | 1224 | Charlotta FOUGBERG | 9:30.11 | 9:23.96 | |
14 | 1270 | Peruth CHEMUTAI | 9:31.34 | 9:31.34 | |
15 | 451 | Ruth JEBET | 8:59.97 | 8:59.97 | |
16 | 496 | Erin TESCHUK | 9:48.65 | 9:40.07 | |
17 | 423 | Juliana Paula DOS SANTOS | 9:38.63 | 9:38.63 |
HEAT 2 13 AUG 2016 9:19 a.m. EDT
ORDER / LANE | BIB | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | SB 2016 | PB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 449 | Tigest GETENT | 9:31.84 | 9:20.65 | |
2 | 1331 | Emma COBURN | 9:10.76 | 9:10.76 | |
3 | 303 | Amina BETTICHE | 9:46.49 | 9:29.20 | |
4 | 1107 | Matylda KOWAL | 9:40.39 | 9:39.87 | |
5 | 1254 | Habiba GHRIBI | 9:21.35 | 9:05.36 | |
6 | 842 | Michelle FINN | 9:43.19 | 9:43.19 | |
7 | 399 | Anastasiya PUZAKOVA | 9:42.91 | 9:42.91 | |
8 | 759 | Sanaa KOUBAA | 9:38.11 | 9:38.11 | |
9 | 333 | Victoria MITCHELL | 9:47.48 | 9:30.84 | |
10 | 655 | Sandra ERIKSSON | 9:31.88 | 9:24.70 | |
11 | 325 | Madeline HEINER HILLS | 9:24.73 | 9:21.56 | |
12 | 826 | Lalita Shivaji BABAR | 9:27.09 | 9:27.09 | |
13 | 1212 | Fabienne SCHLUMPF | 9:40.01 | 9:37.81 | |
14 | 640 | Hiwot AYALEW | 9:09.61 | ||
15 | 301 | Luiza GEGA | 9:28.52 | 9:28.52 | |
16 | 466 | Maria BERNARD | 9:44.81 | 9:44.81 | |
17 | 943 | Beatrice CHEPKOECH | 9:17.41 | 9:17.41 | |
18 | 1255 | Meryem AKDAG | 9:36.54 | 9:36.54 |
HEAT 3 13 AUG 2016 9:33 a.m. EDT
ORDER / LANE | BIB | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | SB 2016 | PB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 773 | Maya REHBERG | 9:39.18 | 9:39.18 | |
2 | 602 | Anna Emilie MØLLER | 9:41.43 | 9:41.43 | |
3 | 837 | Sudha SINGH | 9:26.55 | 9:26.55 | |
4 | 995 | Salima ELOUALI ALAMI | 9:20.64 | ||
5 | 897 | Aisha PRAUGHT | 9:31.75 | 9:31.75 | |
6 | 329 | Genevieve LACAZE | 9:23.19 | 9:23.19 | |
7 | 1342 | Courtney FRERICHS | 9:20.92 | 9:20.92 | |
8 | 536 | Xinyan ZHANG | 9:28.54 | 9:28.54 | |
9 | 727 | Lennie WAITE | 9:35.91 | 9:35.91 | |
10 | 456 | Silvia DÂNEKOVA | 9:48.36 | 9:33.41 | |
11 | 481 | Geneviève LALONDE | 9:32.17 | 9:32.17 | |
12 | 1260 | Tugba GÜVENC | 9:59.65 | 9:33.34 | |
13 | 947 | Hyvin Kiyeng JEPKEMOI | 9:00.01 | 9:00.01 | |
14 | 646 | Etenesh DIRO | 9:16.87 | 9:14.07 | |
15 | 848 | Sara Louise TREACY | 9:39.41 | 9:39.41 | |
16 | 1151 | Ancuta BOBOCEL | 9:40.87 | 9:25.70 | |
17 | 307 | Belén CASETTA | 9:42.93 | 9:42.93 | |
18 | 991 | Eliane SAHOLINIRINA | 9:44.50 | 9:44.50 |
The men’s start list is not available as of 6:46 p.m. on Aug. 12. An updated list will appear for the men’s race as it becomes available.