Folders |
Commonwealth Games: Women s 3000m/5000mPublished by
The history of the women’s 3000m and 5000m at the Commonwealth GamesCommonwealth athletes had to wait four years more than their European counterparts to run the 3000m and in windy conditions and at a slight altitude in Edmonton in 1978, the first race was dominated by England s former Yeoman twins, Paula and Ann. Paula Fudge proved much the stronger on the last lap, opening up eight seconds on Kiwi Heather Thomson. Fudge s sister, Ann Ford, finished third. Fudge went on to set a world 5000m record in 1981 and was still running well into her sixties, though has recently suffered a heart problem. The second 3000m was much faster and Kiwi Anne Audain outkicked England s Wendy Smith. The latter, running under her married name Sly, went on to win Olympic silver in 1984, in the famous Decker-Budd race in Los Angeles. The time was a quick 8:45.53, which broke Smith s Commonwealth record. Marathoner Lorraine Moller finished third and that meant that during the first two championships all medals had gone to England or New Zealand. Yvonne Murray finished 10th in Brisbane in 1982 and then, in Edinburgh 1986, despite huge Scottish support and a brave front-running effort in the last mile, the Scot had to settle for a bronze behind the Canadian duo of Olympic bronze medallist Lynn Williams and Debbie Scott. The African and Caribbean boycott didn t have too much effect in this event though Zola Budd had been denied a run by Commonwealth Games officials, despite the fact that she had been cleared to run for Britain in world, European and Olympic events. Canada also denied Murray in Auckland in 1990 as Angela Chalmers proved too strong on the last lap to win in a record 8:38.38. Behind Murray, Scotland made it three in four with 10,000m winner Liz McColgan third and Karen Hutcheson fourth. While Chalmers had been pressed in Auckland, she was a different class in Victoria in 1994 and won in a Games record 8:32.17, having chased down a pair of Kenyan teenagers who had set off suicidally fast. Only two runners in the world went quicker that year. Canada also took second through Robyn Meagher. Alison Wyeth, only 11th in 1990, won an English medal in third, meaning just four countries had won medals in the five games that had 3000m. In Kuala Lumpur in 1998 the switch was made to 5000m and in hot Malaysian conditions it was a poor-standard event won by Australian Kate Anderson from England s former National Cross champion Andrea Whitcombe, who is still running strongly as a veteran. The 2002 race in Manchester was a different class and England s Paula Radcliffe would have easily lapped the entire 1998 field. In the form of her life, she came close to the world record with a superb solo British and Commonwealth record 14:31.42 to win by 22 seconds from Kenyan Edith Masai, who won the first African medal in the 3000m and 5000m. Kenya fared even better in Melbourne in 2006 with Olympic silver medallist Isabella Ochichi winning a battle with Jo Pavey, who took silver. Lucy Kabuu won a second medal for Kenya in third. They dominated even more in Delhi in 2010 and took all three medals through world champion Vivian Cheruiyot (pictured) having too much speed for Sylvia Kibet winning in a very slow 15:55.12. Scotland s Steph Twell was just over a second outside the medals in fourth. Gold medal winners 3000m1978 Paula Fudge (ENG) 9:12.95 Gold medal winners 5000m1998 Kate Anderson (AUS) 15:52.74 British medallistsGold: Paula Fudge (Eng: 1978), Paula Radcliffe (Eng: 2002) Find other event-by-event histories here and an overall history of the Commonwealth Games here The post Commonwealth Games: Women’s 3000m/5000m appeared first on Athletics Weekly. Read the full article at: www.athleticsweekly.com
More news |
