World T-F: Brave runs by “Steeplechicks”

Dunboyne’s Sarah Treacy produced the fastest time of the three Irish in the women’s steeplechase in Beijing. Treacy’s time of 9:48.24 in the fastest of the three heats saw her ranked 29^th overall of the 45 starters.

It was – to state the obvious – a tale of three heats, with the top three from each heat and the six fastest losers to make it through to the final. Michelle Finn of Leevale was first up and was still in touch with the lead pack at 1000m, where the leader Madeline Heiner of Germany was clocked at 3:10.55. The slow pace meant that staying out of trouble was a priority which Finn – the most experienced ‘chaser of the three – managed to do.

Heiner was still leading at 2000m, where she was timed at 6:22.74. On the final lap, Hiwot Ayalew of Ethiopia moved effortlessly into the lead winning the race in 9:25.55. Second was Kenya’s Virginia Nyambura Nganga of Kenya, with Stephanie Garcia of the USA third after Morocco’s Hanane Ouhaddou not only twisted her ankle but found herself disqualified after she stepped on the inside barrier. Finn finished a creditable ninth in 9:55.27, with no fastest losers from this heat

Next up was Sara Treacy in what would turn out to be the fastest of the three heats. Habiba Ghbibi of Tunisia was the form athlete but she held back in the early stages, with Ozlem Kaya of Turkey leading the field at 1000m in 3:08.29. By the 2000m mark, Ghribi  had taken over in front and was timed at 6:19.84. She then did enough to cross the line first in 9:24.38, with Germany’s Gesa Felicitas Krause second in 9:24.92 and Rosefline Chepngetich of Kenya the third automatic qualifier. The fast pace ensured that next four also qualified for the final. Treacy finished 13^th in 9:48.24.

Finally it was the turn of Kerry O’Flaherty who, on paper, had the fastest time of the three Irish women. She started brightly, but with everyone in the race aware that they must run under 9 mins 30 secs for a fastest loser place, the race turned into a burn up. Tugba Guvenc of Turkey was first to push ahead and she led at 1000m in 3:05.66 – the fastest split of the day.

Emma Coburn of the USA steadied the pace when she moved to the front, with 2000m reached in 6:20.81. Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkomei of Kenya and Ethiopia’s Sofia Assefa then led the chase for the line with Jepkomei first home in 9:26.19, Assefa just behind her and Coburn a safe third. The early pace had taken its toll and Guvenc faded to 11^th place, while O’Flaherty finished 13^th in 10:05.10.

As Kerry says – you have to race the race, and for all three girls the experience will prove a positive stepping stone on the road to Rio ’16.

In the pole vault, Tori Pena finished 20^th overall with a best of 4.30m. She had three failed attempts at 4.45m.

Results –

Pole vault – Gp A: 10 Tori Pena 4.30. Overall – 20th.

Steeplechase – Ht 1: 1 Hiwot Ayalew (Eth) 9:25.55, 2 Virginia Nyambura Nganga (Ken) 9:28.50, 3 Stephanie Garcia (USA) 9:2934…9 Michelle Finn (Leevale) 9:55.27. Ht 2: 1 Habiba Ghribi (Tun) 9:24.38, 2 Gesa Felicitas Krause (Ger) 9:24.92, 3 Rosefline Chepngetich (Ken) 9:25.91….13 Sara Treacy (Dunboyne) 9:48.24.  1 Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkomei (Ken) 9:26.19, Sofia Assefa (Eth) 9:26.47, 3 Emma Coburn (USA) 9:27.19…13 Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC) 10:05.10. Overall – 29 Treacy, 33 Finn, 39 O’Flaherty.