The 3000 metres steeplechase or 3000-meter steeplechase (usually abbreviated as ) is the most common distance for the steeplechase in track and field.
It is an obstacle race over the distance of the 3000 metres, which derives its name from the horse racing steeplechase.
Rules
It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships; it is also an event recognized by World Athletics.
The obstacles for the men are  high, and for the women .
The water jump consists of a barrier followed by a pit of water with a landing area defined as follows: The pit is 3.66 m (12 feet) square.
The pit's forward-direction measurement starts from the approach edge of the barrier and ends at the point where the water jump slope reaches the flat surface of the steeple pathway.
Rulebook language simply but clearly says "The water jump, including the hurdle, shall be 3.66 m in length."
Pits have an upward slope; the water is deeper near the barrier and is within 2 cm of ground level at the departure end.
That slope begins approximately  forward of the barrier at which point the water is  deep.
The length of the race is usually ; junior and some masters events are , as women's events used to be.
The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump.
During the course of the race, each runner must clear a total of 28 ordinary barriers and seven water jumps.
This entails seven complete laps after starting with a fraction of a lap run without barriers.
The water jump is located on the back turn, either inside the inner lane or outside the outer lane.
If it is on the outside, then each of the seven laps is longer than the standard 400 m, and the starting point is on the home straight.
If the water jump is on the inside, each lap is shorter than 400 m, the starting point is on the back straight, so the water jump and barrier in the home straight are bypassed in the first half lap at the start.
thumb|right|400px|The dimension of an obstacle
Unlike those used in hurdling, steeplechase barriers do not fall over if hit, and the rules allow an athlete to negotiate the barrier by any means, so many runners step on top of them.
Four barriers are spaced around the track on level ground, and a fifth barrier at the top of the second turn (fourth barrier in a complete lap from the finish line) is the water jump.
The slope of the water jump rewards runners with more jumping ability, because a longer jump results in a shallower landing in the water.
All-time top 25
Men
Correct as of October 2019.
<small>Notes</small>
Until 2002 he was known as Stephen Cherono, and represented Kenya.
Below is a list of all other times superior to 7:57.00:
Saif Saaeed Shaheen also ran 7:55.51 (2005), 7:56.32 (2006), 7:56.34 (2005), 7:56.54 (2005).
Paul Kipsiele Koech also ran 7:56.37 (2005).
<small>Annulled</small>
The following athletes had their performance (inside 7:55.00) annulled due to doping offenses:
Brahim Boulami 7:53.17 (Zurich 2002)
Women
Correct as of May 2021.
Notes
Below is a list of all other times superior to 9:05.00:
Beatrice Chepkoech also ran 8:55.10 (2018), 8:55.58 (2019), 8:57.84 (2019), 8:59.36 (2018), 8:59.84 (2017), 9:00.70 (2017), 9:01.57 (2017), 9:01.69 (2017), 9:01.71 (2019), 9:04.30 (2019), 9:04.53 (2019), 9:04.94 (2021).
Ruth Jebet also ran 8:55.29 (2017), 8:59.75 (2016), 8:59.97 (2016), 9:01.99 (2017), 9:03.52 (2017), 9:04.78 (2017).
Norah Jeruto also ran 8:59.62 (2018), 9:00.67 (2021), 9:03.70 (2017), 9:03.71 (2019), 9:04.17 (2018), 9:04.56 (2017).
Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi also ran 9:00.05 (2021), 9:00.12 (2017), 9:01.60 (2018), 9:01.96 (2016), 9:03.82 (2021), 9:03.83 (2019), 9:03.86 (2018), 9:04.03 (2017), 9:04.34 (2021), 9:04.41 (2018), 9:04.96 (2018).
Courtney Frerichs also ran 9:00.85 (2018), 9:03.77 (2017), 9:04.79 (2021).
Gulnara Galkina also ran 9:01.59 (2004).
Celliphine Chepteek Chespol also ran 9:01.82 (2018).
Emma Coburn also ran 9:02.58 (2017), 9:04.90 (2019).
Winfred Mutile Yavi also ran 9:04.27 (2021).
<small>Annulled</small>
The following athletes had their performances (inside 9:08.00) annulled due to doping offenses:
Yuliya Zaripova 9:05.02 (Stockholm 2012)
Marta Domínguez 9:07.32 (Berlin 2009)
Olympic medalists
Men
Women
World Championships medalists
Men
Women
right|thumb|Women's race at the 2007 World Championships Season's bests
Men
Women
National records
Updated 8 September 2021.
Men
NR's inside 8:30.00 min:
Women
NR's inside 9:30.00 min:
References
External links
IAAF list of 3000-metres steeplechase records in XML
Steeplechase at the Olympic Games at Sports Reference
