Long Distance Races

The long distance races consist of:

• 3000 m - A distance that is often run by runners who are comfortable at both 1500m and 5000m. Many see it as a hybrid event between middle and long distances and is characterised by fast finishes.

Record Breakers: Men: Daniel Komen (KEN) - 7:20.67, 01/09/96 Women: Wang Junxia (CHN) - 8:06.11, 13/09/93

• 3000 m Steeplechase - Originating from a British event where runners raced between towns, from one church steeple to the next, the Steeplechase is a 3000 m race in which contestants run around the track encountering various obstacles over the course of the race. The obstacles consist of twenty eight different barriers and seven water jumps which are situated at different points on the track.

Record Breakers: Men: Saif Saaeed Shaheen (QAT) - 7:53.63, 03/09/2003 Women: Gulnara Samitova-Galkina (RUS) - 9.01:59, 04/07/2004

• 5000 m - Requiring extreme endurance and aerobic training the 5000 m requires athletes to run 12.5 times around the track. Unlike the short distance races, stamina is much more important than speed and athletes begin the race steadily in order to conserve energy for the duration of the race.

Record Breakers: Men: Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) - 12:37.35, 31/05/2004 Women: Meseret Defar (ETH) - 14:16.63, 13/06/2007

• 10000 m - The longest track event in athletics competition, the 10000 m requires intense training sessions in order that the athlete can build up the stamina and mental determination necessary to run the required 25 times around the track.

Record Breakers: Men: Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) - 26:17.53, 26/08/2005 Women: Wang Junxia (CHN) - 29:31.78, 08/09/1993