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News20 Sep 2002


Women's 3000m

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One of the greatest sprint finish battles in a World Cup distance race history was witnessed in the women’s 3000m.

A group of six women representing Oceania, Africa, Europe, Russia, Spain and USA were quickly well clear of the remaining three teams and stayed tightly bunched together for lap after lap.

As the bell was reached (7:49.05), it was Spain’s Beatriz Santiago much to the delight of the home crowd who tried to break away from the pack. However, her burst was only enough to set the other runners well and truly into sprint mode, and quickly down the back straight the race developed into a three way battle between Russia’s Yelena Zadorozhnaya, Europe’s Gabriela Szabo (ROM) and Africa’s Berhane Adere (ETH).

At 200m it was hard to choose between the three but as they entered the final 100m, Szabo first made a stab at the win, only to be drawn immediately back again by Zadorozhnaya. It seemed it would be a ‘head to head’ battle between the European and the Russian but then with an astonishing change of pace Adere brought Africa’s colours back into contention, and by the line she was able to out dip Szabo who was mistakenly already signaling the win.

This was a true blanket finish, with Africa’s Adere proclaimed the winner in 8:50.88, Szabo for Europe second in 8:50.89, and the Zadorozhnaya for Russia in third, 8:50.93.

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