Monday, August 18, 2008

Russia's Samitova-Galkina takes 3000m steeplechase gold with a new world record

Gulnara Galkina-Samitova of Russia celebrates after winning women's 3000m steeplechase final at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. claimed the title of the event and rewrote the world record to 8 mins 58.81 secs.

Gulnara Galkina-Samitova of Russia competes in women's 3000m steeplechase final at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. claimed the title of the event and broke the world record.Gulnara Samitova-Galkina of Russia led all the way to win the women's steeplechase gold medal with a world record performance at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Sunday.

The 30-year-old took a long-standing lead from the very beginning of the race to finish with a time of eight minutes 58.81 seconds, breaking the previous record of 9:01.59 set by herself four years ago.

Eunice Jepkorir of Kenya trailed by 9.60 seconds to claim the silver medal in 9:07.41. She outsprinted another Russian Ekaterina Volkova in the final 100 meters to catch the medal and broke the African record.

Volkova, last year's gold winner at the Osaka world championships, had to settle for the bronze in 9:07.64.

When she crossed the finish line, Samitova-Galkina threw her arms up and put her hands on her head with an easy smile.

It was Russia's first athletics gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Source: Xinhua

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