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The Historic Series on Olympic Running (VII): Women’s 10,000m
So far, only Kathrin Ullrich and Uta Pippig have made it to the finals (since 1988)
2004-07-26
In four weeks, the Olympic Games will be opening in Athens. Each week we have been and will continue introducing one of the eleven running disciplines, as well as naming the favourites for the Olympic gold medals.This series on the history of Olympic running will follow the weekly series on running which focuses on Athens 2004 —out of respect for the great achievements and as an inspiration for imitation.
Today we will continue with women’s
10,000m.
The women’s 10,000m was first introduced to the Olympic
programme in 1988 in Seoul. Strangely, the women continued to only run
the 3000m (rather than the 5000m, like the men) in Seoul, and even four years
later in Barcelona, as well.
10,000m - the Ethiopian distance!?
The runners from Ethiopia have taken home four medals, of which two were
gold. In this relatively young discipline that makes them the most successful
nation, ahead of the Soviet Union and Portugal, both with one gold and one
bronze medal.
The German women, with Kathrin Ullrich and her fourth place finish, have been
close to a medal.
7 countries share the 12 medals.
Kathrin Ullrich is the best German woman 10,000m runner at the
Olympic Games so far.
Her two 4th-place final finishes and a 7th place finish by Uta Pippig are
Germany’s best results.
Overview of the distribution of medals of the most successful countries
in the 10,000m:
Germany: 1 x 4th place / 1 x seventh place
ETH: 2 G / 1 S / 1 B
URS: 1 G / 0 S / 1 B
POR: 1 G / 0 S / 1 B
GBR: 0 G / 1 S
RSA: 0 G / 1 S
CHN: 0 G / 1 S
USA: 0 G / 0 S / 1 B
Seoul 1988 – Kathrin Ullrich fought out a 4th-place
finish
The Norwegian world record holder Ingrid Kristiansen had to drop out of the
finals after 2,800m due to a foot injury. Liz McColgan was not able to shake
off Olga Bondarenko despite her efforts to pick up the pace, and the Soviet
European champion became Olympic champion with an excellent final sprint.
Kathrin Ullrich, who had great potential, may have “taken on more than
she could handle,“ so wrote "Leichathletik", “when she
tried to follow the Norwegian world record holder like a shadow, who then left
her running on her own when she dropped out.
When Liz McColgan closed the gap with the followers, Kathrin Ullrich no longer
had much left to counter with.“.
Finals (September 30):
1. Olga Bondarenko (URS) 31:05.21 OR – 2. Elizabeth McColgan (GBR)
31:08.44 – 3. Jelena Shupijewa (URS) 31:19.82 – 4. Kathrin Ullrich
31:29.27
Barcelona 1992 – Uta Pippig seventh – Ullrich and
Pressler in the preliminaries
Liz McColgan, the previous year’s world champion in Tokyo, was chased
by all. Elana Meyer and Derartu Tulu were the best runners on the last laps.
According to “Leichtathletik”, “Uta Pippig (SCC), who always
kept at the front and was rewarded for her consequent attitude and running plan
with a 7th place finish in 31:36.45, made quite an impression.”
“Both other German participants, Kathrin Ullrich and Kerstin
Pressler“ (both of Berlin), wrote “Leichtathletik“, were
victims of the second preliminary 6 days previous. One should mention the
conditions: 28°C (after 10 p.m.!) and 73 percent humidity! Kathrin Ullrich
gave up after about 5.200m, at which point she had already lost contact with
the leading group, while Kerstin Pressler ran courageously but beaten on to the
finish to 13th place in 33:17.88”.
Finals (August 7):
1. Derartu Tulu (ETH) 31:06.02 – 2. Elena Meyer (RSA) 31 :11.75 –
3. Lynn Jennings (USA) 31:19.89 – 4. Huandi Zhong (CHN) 31:21.08 –
5. Liz McColgan (GBR) 31:26.11 – 6. Xiuting Wang (CHN) 31:28.06 –
7. Uta Pippig 31:36.45
Atlanta 1996 – Kathrin Ullrich-Weßel is
back
Kathrin Ullrich-Weßel achieved the great accomplishment of making it
to the third Olympic Games in a row for the 10,000m in Atlanta. But luck was
not with her, and she came in 13th in the preliminaries in 33:31.67
Finals:
1. Fernanda Ribeiro (POR) 31:01.63 – 2. Junxia Wang (CHN) 31:02.58
– 3. Gete Wami (ETH) 31:06.56 – 4. Derartu Tulu (ETH)
31:10.46
Sydney 2000 – Petra Wassiluk in the
preliminaries
The preliminaries (in 33:23.03) were unfortunately the end station for Petra
Wassiluk. The defending champion, Ribeiro, was not able to hold her title. The
results from Atlanta were “turned around”.
The current world record holder in the marathon, Paula Radcliffe, came in 4th,
and Tegla Loroupe, the world record holder from the BERLIN MARATHON 1999 came
in 5th.
Finals:
1. Derartu Tulu (ETH) 30:17.49 – 2. Gete Wami (ETH) 30:22.48 – 3.
Fernanda Ribeiro (POR) 30:22.88 – 4. Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 30:26.97
– 5. Tegla Loroupe (KEN) 30:37.26
The women’s 10,000m reflects the current situation for long distance
running for the German women at the Olympics. The other countries are taking
off at the lead. That is not something one can whitewash, but also nothing to
be condemned.
The hope for the future can only lie in an attempt to keep the distance to the
leading countries to minimum. But that can only happen when the promising youth
in this country are sought out, cultivated and supported.
Horst Milde
Interesting tips and supplementary information on the great Olympic history
of the addressed topics may be sent to:
info@berlin-marathon.com.
Women’s 800m (Historic Olympic Series I):
http://www.berlin-marathon.com/news/show/002090
Men’s 1500m (Historic Olympic Series II:)
http://www.real-berlin-marathon.com/news/show/002114
Men’s 800m (Historic Olympic Series III):
http://www.real-berlin-marathon.com/news/show/002129
Women’s 1500m (Historic Olympic Series IV):
http://www.real-berlin-marathon.com/news/show/002166
Women’s 5000m (Historic Olympic Series V):
http://www.real-berlin-marathon.com/news/show/002184
Menss 5000m (Historic Olympic Series VI):
http://www.real-berlin-marathon.com/world/E/news/show/002202
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