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World ChampionshipsAugust 4, 2005
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Athletics history will be made August 6 and 8 at Helsinki, Finland, when women's steeplechase is first included in the IAAF World Championships. The women's 3000m qualifying round is scheduled for 1205 Helsinki time on Saturday, August 6; the final is at 2035 Monday, August 8. The average maximum temperature (31C, 70F) in August suggests pleasant running conditions.
Competition may be closer than originally planned because history's fastest two women steeplers are not contenders. Gulnara Samitova, the world record holder, was reported to be married last year and now pregnant. Alysa Turova, the former world record holder, has not run a steeple race since 2003 and therefore has not achieved a qualifying standard mark during the "window" that started in January 2004. But Turova is qualified for the 1500m run with a 2005 mark of 4:02.21 and a lifetime best of 3:59.89.
The remaining leaders are not dramatically separated in season lists and some of the fastest are not as consistent as the second tier. Start lists, showing who runs in the first round on Saturday and how many athletes will advance from each qualifying race to the Monday evening final, were not yet available today.
The first eight finishers in the women's steeplechase final will receive the following cash prizes (U.S. dollars): Winner $60,000; Second place $30,000; Third $20,000; Fourth $15,000; Fifth $10,000; Sixth $6000; Seventh $5000; Eighth $4000.
A bonus prize of $50,000 US could be awarded for a World Record in women's steeplechase if set during the 2005 IAAF World Championships in Athletics. However, records in a grueling event such as steeple are uncommon in a meet with multiple rounds. All prizes have conditions such as results of doping control tests and IAAF record ratification.
Electronic coverage will be distributed by internet and television. In North America, the most TV hours may be delivered by Canada's CBUT which is available in northern USA cities such as Seattle.
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