Yulivay Zaripova of Russia left nothing to chance. Leading from the start, she lead at the first kilometer in 3:00.70, two kilometers, hit in 6:04.36 and sprinting to the finish, she took the gold in a world leading 9:07.03.
Yuliya Zaripova, 2011 WC Steeplechase, gold medalist, photo by PhotoRun.net
Habiba Ghribi of Tunisia follwed Zaripova, and the pack of Kenyans and ran a national record of 9:11.97.
Zaripova leads steeple final, 2011 WC steeplechase final, photo by PhotoRun.net
In third place, Milcah Chemos Cheywa, of Kenya, who had won all of the major events this year that she ran, ran behind Njorge for several laps and took the bronze, running 9:17.16.
Zaripova leads, 2011 WC steeplechase, photo by PhotoRun.net
In fourth place, Mercy Wanjiku Njorge of Kenya ran 9:17.88, without the benefit of two shoes-she lost one early on. In fifth place, Lydia Rotich of Kenya ran 9:25.74. In sixth place, Ethiopia’s Sofia Assefa ran 9:28.24. In 13 th place, Emma Coburn of the US, finished in 9:51.40.
Zaripova leads, Ghribi, Njorge (w/o shoe), 2011 WC steeple final, photo by PhotoRun.net
Hats off to the Russian. Zaripova ran away from the field and was rewarded with the gold and the world leading mark in the steeplechase!
Habiba Ghribi, 2011 WC Steeplechase, photo by PhotoRun.net
Yuliya Zaripova won the race the only way she really could, by breaking the speed of her persuers, and making it the strongest women wins. This was a quite physical race. Notice Njorge, the fourth placer, lost a shoe early on in the race, and just toughed it out!
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Ghribi, Zaripova, 2011 WC steeplechase, silver, gold, photo by PhotoRun.net
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Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."
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