Gulnara Galkina takes an easy victory in the women's steeplechase (© Getty Images)
Gulnara Galkina maintained her flawless steeplechase record this year to capture the IAAF World Athletics Final in a meeting record with a typical front-running performance.
The Russian athlete, who thrillingly took Olympic gold in a new World record in Beijing, was always in control and simply ran the legs of the opposition to shave 0.07 from Dorcus Inzikuru's meeting record with 9:21.73.
Behind her, Olympic silver medallist Eunice Jepkorir again has to play second fiddle to the 30-year-old Russian.
Jepkorir, the 2007 champion from Kenya, faded over the final 600m, although she managed to hold off a late surge from her compatriot Ruth Bisibori Nyangau to clinch second by 0.35 in 9:24.03.
Galkina sped straight to the front from the gun in characteristic fashion inside a chilly Mercedes Benz Arena and took the field through the first 1km in 3:04.95 tracked by Jepkorir.
Some four laps out the lead pair had opened up a clear lead on the rest of the field with Galkina hitting 2km in 6:14.06.
The Russian made her decisive move at the penultimate water jump opening up a five-metre lead on the fading Jepkorir and the elegant Galkina simply put on her demonstration of her superiority over the final lap to march to her sixth steeplechase final victory this season.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
