Andrews beats school record in steeplechase

In 1850, a few Oxford students bet on a competition they devised that imitated horse racing. They created a course that was a little over two miles long, with hurdles, streams and various other obstacles.

And so the (human) steeplechase was created.

Today, the event is run at the Summer Olympics, various national and world championships and in the NCAA. The standard distance for the NCAA steeplechase is 3,000 meters — seven-and-a-half laps around the outdoor track — though 2,000 meters is also a common distance internationally.

Princeton's top female steeplechaser, senior Suzanne Andrews, recently broke the school record in the unusual event. First, her time at the Penn Relays of 10 minutes, 34.65 seconds broke the two-year-old record of 10:37.22, held by Carrie Strickland '05.

Last weekend, the Youngstown, Ohio, native bested her own record with a time of 10:32.10 for a third place finish at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships. By comparison, Andrews finished the 3000m (non-steeplechase) run in 9:42.79 for a fourth at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships. Her performances were part of a strong distance effort for the Tigers.

The Ivy League has only included the 3000m steeplechase as an event since 2002, and though Andrews only came in third place this year, her time is the fourth fastest since the event was added, and would have won the event in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Steeplechasers begin each race at the 200m mark on the track, and run the first half lap free from obstacles. For the last seven laps, the runners encounter five hurdles per lap, one of which is the water jump.

Unlike standard hurdle races, whose hurdles are smaller, flimsier and more easily knocked over, steeplechase hurdles are more solid and immovable. These hurdles will not be knocked over if touched by an athlete, and many runners step off the top of a hurdle for a little boost. Like shorter hurdle races, though, the standard practice is to barely clear each barrier in order to maintain a natural running stride.

Most steeplechasers don't typically originate as hurdlers. Instead, they are converted long distance runners like Andrews, who was a member of the cross-country team and who has run other long distance track events this season. She particularly shone in the 3000m and mile races during indoor track, whose events do not include a steeplechase.

The standard height for the hurdles is 36 inches for men and 30 inches for women. The five hurdles are distributed equally, 80 meters between each hurdle throughout the track, with 40 meters between the last hurdle and the finish line.

Perhaps the most interesting and unique part of the steeplechase is the water jump. The fourth hurdle for each lap is the water jump, and is actually set inside the track. The run up to the jump is dry and level, but after the hurdle lies a pool 3.66 m long. It is 70 cm deep immediately after the hurdle, and gradually becomes more shallow. The water level is even with the track.

Athletes step on this hurdle to propel themselves over most of the water jump, though many can still count on finishing the race with wet feet.

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The combination of hurdling and distance makes the steeplechase a truly unique race. That Andrews has had success in the event points not only to her skill as a runner, but also her versatility — and a willingness to get her feet wet.