Adidas Oregon Track Classic
May 18, 2002
Gresham, Oregon
Mention the word “steeplechase,” and most people conjure up images of thoroughbred horses, vaulting over poles in a Kentucky pasture. A thoroughbred of another kind entertained track and field fans recently at the adidas Oregon Track Classic (OTC), and it was fitting that his chosen event was the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
With a deep prize purse on the line ($50,000 to the runner who could break a U.S. or world record), American steeplechaser Tim Broe had one task in mind: Breaking Henry Marsh’s 17-year-old record of 8:09.17. Although the OTC is an early season meet, Broe would have the benefit of running the race with the current world record holder, Morocco’s Brahim Boulami (7:55.28). Given the meet’s timing and the progress of his training, Boulami had predicted that he could eke out a sub 8:05, thereby producing the fastest steeple time ever run on U.S. soil. Broe would need to hang on to Boulami’s heels to notch the U.S. mark.
As is typical for big Northwest track meets, the OTC delighted trackside fans throughout the afternoon. Clear skies and light breezes helped athletes uncover their early-season form and prepare them for the rigors of the European summer track circuit. Broe, who didn’t have a season’s worth of steeplechase experience, was pleased with his race effort, even if he didn’t hit the U.S. mark.
“I felt very comfortable,” said Broe. “I just couldn’t maintain a good pace. I didn’t have delusions of grandeur that I could hit the record. The steeple is a tricky race, and I think you need a few under your belt before you can run really fast.”
“I came here to run between 8:06 and 8:08, so I’m very happy today with an 8:04,” said Boulami, who has a goal of bettering his own world record later this year. “I think I can run a 7:53 with good training,” he noted. “I’m working hard on my finishing speed.”
The Moroccan runner was quite complimentary about Broe’s chances to break the U.S. record. “Tim has run a very fast 3000 meters indoors , so an 8:09 steeplechase is definitely within his reach.”
With an eye on the following weekend’s Prefontaine Classic meet in Eugene, Oregon, the athletes at the OTC (held at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham) didn’t hold back in hopes of better running conditions. Meet records also fell in the women’s 5000, where Eugene-based runner Marla Runyan held on for a gritty 2nd place finish (15:13.96) behind Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba (15:13.78). Runyan, the popular Olympian who is renown for overcoming vision problems as much as for her running talent, promised big things for her running future, and even alluded to an autumn marathon debut.
There were horses running at the OTC, although they were the two-legged variety. Somehow, I think that the Gresham track aficionados preferred it that way, even though there was no wagering involved. Still, it’s a good bet that the Oregon Track Classic will continue to impress running fans for years to come.
Article by Greg Pressler, Courtesy of CitySports NW Magazine
?
