New WR in Women’s Steeplechase

Day two of the Russian National Championships produced a world record in the new discipline, 3000 m Steeplechase. Yekaterina Volkova, the owner of the previous record of 9.50,7, set a fast pace from the gun (first 1000 m in 3.12 – well under old record pace), only to become the first runner to succumb to it. The experienced Natalia Cherepanova passed her at midpoint and was clocked at 6.31 at the 2000 m mark (second 1000 m split – 3.19). Amazingly, Natalia was able to increase the tempo further, covering the final kilometer in 3.07. Her time of 9.38,30 became a new WR by more than 12 seconds. Cherepanova is coached by Yevgeniy Yevsyukov, who said that they trained hard in Sochi (Black Sea coast) in January and plan to make better progress during the outdoor season.