Dorcus Inzikuru of Uganda in the heats of the women's 3000m Steeplechase (© Getty Images)
History has proven that when a new event is added to the World Championship programme the level of competition rises significantly. Just look at how far the women’s Triple Jump, 5000m and Pole Vault / Hammer Throw have come since they were added in 1993, 1995 and 1999 respectively.
And certainly from what we witnessed in today’s qualifying rounds we are in a for a treat come Monday when the medals and prize money are up for grabs in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase which is making its debut here in Helsinki.
Shaheen's training partner
Anticipating this newfound opportunity many strong middle distance runners have taken up the event recently including Dorcus Inzikuru of Uganda. The 23-year-old has surrounded herself with the right crowd too.
A member of an Italian club she trains most of the year in a high altitude training camp in Iten, Kenya with Saif Saaeed Shaheen - the former Stephen Cherono - and their coach Renata Canova. Shaheen is of course the defending World champion in the men’s Steeplechase and holds the World record for the event.
Inzikuru set a championship record in winning the third of three heats in 9:27.85 giving her four of the year’s top five marks. Earlier Russia’s Yelena Zadorozhnaya had established the championship record when she won the first heat in 9:32.96. A new Asian record was set in the same race by Minori Hayakari (9:41.21)
Kenya’s dominance in the men’s steeplechase is well known. They have won every gold medal since the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo although Shaheen represented Qatar in Paris two years ago - and it likely that the Kenyan women will offer medal challenges too. Jeruto Kiptum broke the Kenyan women’s record with a time of 9:29.21 finishing 2nd to Inzikuru here while Salome Chepchumba qualified rather easily for the final. For the moment though it is the Ugandan who must be considered the gold medal favourite.
“Yes I am confident, I hope for a good result in the final,” Inzikuru said following the race. Grinning widely for reporters, she would not acknowledge which athletes would provide the strongest challenge. “They are all my sisters so we always help each other and push each other.”
A World record?
The World record of 9:01.59 is held by Gulnara Samitova of Russia who is not competing here. Inzikuru has run 9:15.04 this season, a full ten seconds faster than her nearest rival and was running well within her capabilities in Helsinki’s Olympic stadium this afternoon. Does she think a World record is possible?
“I will see how fast I will be,” she answered. “The World record is 9:01 but a record needs someone to pace. I will not run it alone.”
Between now and the steeplechase final, the daughter of a church minister says she plans to listen to church music and draw upon her Christian faith for additional support.
“I am the first born in the family. We had two brothers but they both died.
We are five sisters. They are very clever in school. They are praying hard for me for success,” she declares. “I have to pray to God to give me strength. I will be praying all the night.”
Paul Gains for the IAAF
