Note:
If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)
By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)
3000m Timing for Women - Getting faster for nowadays.
Picture 1 - Wang Junxia of China, still in the all-time 3000m best
On 9th May 2014 in the Qatari city of Doha on Friday Night,
Hellen Obiri outsprinted fellow country runner Mercy Cherono at the opening of
2014 IAAF Diamond League series to come in first with a time of 8min 20.68sec.
In fact, overall, a total of seven women finished inside 8min 30sec. It was an
amazing feat. There was a crowd capacity of 15000 people on that night,
watching the race.
Pic 2 Hellen Obiri - Gunning for the 3000m world record.
Pic 2 Hellen Obiri - Gunning for the 3000m world record.
In the past, 3000m timings for elite women runners have been
above 8min 30sec when they won races. Two years back, previously, as I can remember covering on
races of IAAF, the 3000m timing was nowhere
near Wang Junxia's long-standing world record of 8min 06.11sec.
The observation currently is that the year 2014 has made
long-distance runners believe that a couple of talented female middle and
long-distance runners are getting closer to Wang Junxia's world record.
Genzebe Dibaba's world indoor record of 8min 16.11sec in 3000m
during the winter has shown that these talented women athletes are getting a
little closer to breaking the world record over time. From impossible, it is becoming
possible. In this outdoor race in Doha, Dibaba also ran and was one of the
record seven women who did below 8min 30sec. Dibaba did 8min 26.21sec.
Wang Junxia, of the four top Chinese women runners, was
able to break the 3000m world record, while other phenomenal times were
recorded in 1500m, 5000m and 10000m race was run on home soil at the 1993 National Games in Beijing.
Cherono, world silver medalist for 5000m told reporters that she
does not train with Obiri but she is contact with her through phone and
Facebook.
Obiri decided to take a conservative approach to race the 3000m
as there were pacemakers involved in the race. They were there to help runners
to go closer or break the world record. The time which was forecasted for Dibaba to run in the first
kilometre was 2min 45sec and the second portion was to cross the 2km mark at 5min
30sec. It was at the last 250 metres that Obiri took the opportunity to win by
outsprinting her fellow country runner Cherono. Obiri went for the gold and she got it.
Currently, the question of running faster than Wang's world
record looks like it is no more an issue. It is a question of time only.
Cherono felt that the world record can be broken. Cherono mentioned that they
may have gone for the record on Friday itself but the pace that was done on the day was
considered as not good to go for it. In fact, in the race, the pacemakers, who was supposed to push the pace, drifted
away later on in the race.
However, the feeling is getting stronger than ever that it is no more an
impossible thing to break the world record for 3000m.
Obiri commented that with good pace making and good conditions,
she would be able to break the world record. She felt that it is no more an
issue to do a sub- 8min 06sec.
The general feeling is that if these girls were able to do a 2 to 3
seconds faster per round, they would have broken the world record.
Obiri, currently, is right now the world 1500m bronze medallist
who has a personal best of 3:58.58 for 1500m.
Hence, the possibility of breaking the world record is getting closer and it is getting very exciting as to who is going to be the best of the all-time in the 3000m race.
Until then, the all-time list for the best 3000m time for women
will, for now, belong to Wang Junxia's.
Note:
By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’ by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).
He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.
Note:
By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’ by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).
He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.
