Monday - August 15, 2016
Today found us back at the Olympic Stadium for another day of Track & Field, which included the event of Steeplechase.
Steeplechase, for those who like me had never been exposed to it before, is an obstacle course race in athletics which got it's name from the steeplechase horse racing event. The event originated in Ireland, where they would race from one town's steeple to the next. The steeple's were used as markers due to their visibility over long distances. Along the way runners would have to jump streams and low stone walls separating the estates. The University of Oxford sports in 1860 created a cross country version, and by 1865 they had created a flat field with barriers that became the modern steeplechase.
A 3,000 meter steeplechase is defined in the rulebooks at having 28 barriers and 7 water jumps.
Note: Today Emma Coburn from the Team USA made history by winning the Bronze Medal in the Women's 3,000m Steeplechase. She is the first woman to win a medal in this event for Team USA.
