Event Report: Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Heats
Cristina Casandra of Romania was, surprisingly, the fastest qualifier for Monday’s final. The powerful Russian trio all comfortably qualified and the only big name casualty of the heats was European champion Alesya Turova (BLR), who failed to finish in her first race of the summer.
In heat one, Kenyan No. 1 Eunice Jepkorir signalled her intent as a potential medallist with an impressive victory by more than 30m in testing hot and humid conditions. Jepkorir hit the front with just over two laps remaining and opened up a sizeable lead ahead of the chasing pack of three to stop the clock in 9:32.27.
European silver medallist Tatyana Petrova (RUS) qualified in second with the minimum of fuss in 9:38.80, Veerle Dejaeghere (BEL) secured third (9:38.95) and early leader Roisin McGettigan (IRL) was rewarded by taking the fourth automatic qualifying spot in 9:39.41.
Turova, competing in her first event of the season, failed to finish.
In the slower second heat Spanish record-holder Rosa Morato eased ahead on the final lap to win in 9:43.48. The long striding Pole Wioletta Janowska (9:43.96) held on for second 0.02s ahead of pre-event favourite and world record-holder Gulnara Samitova, who was forced to stride out in the final 15 metres to make certain of qualification in third. The fast-finishing Portuguese Sara Moreira (9:44.01) snatched the final automatic place.
In heat three, former world record-holder Cristina Casandra (ROM) produced an impressive display to win her heat and qualify fastest for the final in 9:29.39 – within a second of her lifetime best.
The blonde-haired Romanian eased clear of Yekaterina Volkova, the 2005 World silver medal winner, on the last lap with the Russian settling for second 9:30.00.
Moroccan record-holder Hanane Ouhaddou snatched third (9:30.61) with a late surge by 0.09s from Sophie Duarte (FRA) and both athletes secured a final spot.
Osaka 2007 News Team/sl
