What is a steeplechase?

Question

I have heard this term a lot and I have never known what it is.

Answer 1

The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing. The length of the race is usually 3000 m. The number of laps depends on whether the water jump is located to the inside of lane one or to the outside of lane eight or nine. Each runner encounters a total of 28 barriers over the course of the race, as well as 7 water jumps. According to IAAF rules, barrier height is 914 mm (36 in) for men and 762 mm (30 in) for women. Unlike those used in hurdling, steeplechase barriers do not fall over if hit; some runners actually step on top of them. Four barriers are spaced around the track on level ground, and a fifth barrier at the top of the second turn (fourth barrier in a complete lap from the finish line) is the water jump, which consists of a barrier followed by a pit of water which is 3.66 m (12 ft) long and slopes upward from 700 mm (27.6 in) deep at the barrier end to even with the surface of the track. This slope rewards runners with more hurdling ability, because a longer jump results in a shallower landing in the water. Some runners can completely "clear" (jump over) the water pit. It is important to land on only one foot if jumping off the barrier so as to keep the stride going. If both feet are landed upon, it may take a few seconds to get back into the rhythm of running. The toe off is also important when jumping off the water barrier so as to jump as far across as possible.

The event originated in the British Isles. Runners raced from one town's steeple to the next. The steeples were used as markers due to their visibility over long distances. Along the way runners inevitably had to jump creeks and low stone walls separating estates. The modern athletics event originates from a two-mile cross country steeplechase that formed part of the Oxford University sports (in which many of the modern athletics events were founded) in 1860. It was replaced in 1865 by an event over barriers on a flat fields, which became the modern steeplechase. It has been an Olympic event since the inception of the modern Olympics, though with varying lengths. Since the 1968 Summer Olympics the steeplechase in the Olympics has been dominated by Kenyan athletes, including a clean sweep of the medals at the 2004 Games.

Answer 2

Steeplechase Barriers

Answer 3

A steeplechase is a horse race where the horse has to jump over barriers to get to the end of the course.The barriers could include fences, small streams, and low walls. The name comes from the fact that the original steeplechase events ended at a church, so the riders could stay on course by riding in the direction of the steeple.
Many running events that require similar talents are called steeplechase because of teh similarities to the equestrian event.

Answer 4

The steeplechase is a race where each participant has to jump a set number of barriers. For track & field, it's 28 barriers with 7 water jumps. There is also a horse racing event with the same name. However, do not know much about it.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is a steeplechase?
I have heard this term a lot and I have never known what it is.

Answer 6

A steeplechase is an obstacle course type of race for mounted equestrians.

Answer 7

its a long distance race, with some large hurdles and a water jump added.

the standard distance is 3K, and if done on a 400m track there will be two large hurdles and one water jump on every lap. The water jump is just a large hurdle with a shallow pool of water after it, only a couple inches deep really.

the idea is to simulate running cross country, across fences and streams.

Answer 8

its were you do a long distance race normally 3k or 5k on a 400m track, and (except on the 1st lap) you jump 1 large hurdle just after the start line, one down the back straight a water jump at the 150m mark, and a final 1 on the homestraight, it requires a lot of stamina, because when you are on the 7th lap of that..your legs are full of lactic acid i can tell you!
hope this helps

Answer 9

A steeple chase is when we take down the nearest church steeple. We poke sticks at it and allow our hounds to bark at it until the steeple is in a panic of fear.
Then we release the steeple and our dogs give chase as we mount our horses and hunt after the steeple.
The chase usually ends with the steeple being treed high in a tree, or being chased into a hole.
It is great fun but some steeple loving bleeding hearts are complaining a lot about it being cruel to the steeple.
That's hogwash!

Answer 10

It is a track running competition, sort of like the hurdles where runners need to jump over a fence and land in a puddle of water or sand pit.

It's wierd, supposedly it started as a race between children running to church.