Beijing Olympics Day 3: Galkina smashes World record on historic night in Beijing – European Athletics (EAA) – NEWS

Gulnara Galkina-Samitova made history in the National Stadium today as she smashed her own World record to win the first ever Olympic women's 3,000m Steeplechase final and break nine minutes for the first time.

The Russian – already the quickest in the world this year – set a blistering pace from the start and never relented as she powered on to set the Beijing Games' second World record in two days.

Perhaps it was fated, for Galkina received a bunch of flowers when she bumped into the 100m record breaker Usian Bolt in a coffee shop earlier today.

"He told me these flowers are transferable," said Galkina. "If I took them I must win gold and then pass them on to someone else."

Just as Bolt had been the first to break 9.70 for the 100, she became the first woman to dip under 9:00 minutes for the Steeplechase, clocking 8:58.81.

"My coach told me just to watch the situation and use my brains," she said. "When I looked up at the last lap I knew I could break the World record."
 
In a final that started with the three fastest women in history, all Russians, it was Eunice Jepkorir of Kenya who took the silver as she improved her own African record to 9:00.41 to become the third quickest Steeplechaser of all time.

Ekaterina Volkova made it two medals for Russia as she took bronze in 9:07.64 after being overtaken in the last 10 metres by Jepkorir.

"I didn't realise I was overtaken at first," she said. "But anyway I don't feel it is a pity because I got a medal."

Galkina made her intentions clear from the start, setting out at World record pace with Jepkorir and Petrova on her tail. They hung on for a kilometre but the pace was too much for most of the rest and the main three soon opened a significant gap.

Galkina pulled clear with three laps to go and from then on there was only the clock and a historic barrier to beat.

Needing a three minute last kilometre she powered on to reach the bell with a 50 metre lead. Thirty last month, she showed no signs of slowing as she kicked again down the back straight and stormed towards the line, already smiling before she stopped the clock.

There was more Olympic history in the men's Hammer when Primos Kosmuz won the first ever Olympic gold for Slovenia.

A year ago he was denied the World Championships title when the great Ivan Tikhon stole the gold from under his nose in the very last round. Tonight it was a story of redemption as he brought joy to his small Balkan nation in an event dominated by Europeans.

Kozmus had a superb competition. His winning throw landed at 82.02m, and he produced six efforts of more than 80.00m, each one greeted with a deep "Ooh" as it sailed through the heavy air of the giant Bird's Nest bowl.

The Belarussian Vadim Devyatovskiy took the silver with a best of 81.61m, with his teammate Tikhon for once relegated to bronze.
 
For Kozmus, who has no fewer than nine Slovenian records to his name, it was a first Olympic medal after he failed to qualify in Sydney eight years ago and finished sixth in Athens.

"This is my dream come true," he said. "It was very hard because last year I lost the gold and I didn't want it to happen again. On the last throw I said ‘Thank you very much'."

Kosmuz led from the very first round with 80.75 and extended his lead with his winning effort in the second. Devyatovskiy briefly threatened, but the Slovenian was consistency personified, and a class apart.

"Slovenia is a small country so everyone knows what happens there," he said. "There will be a big celebration, I'm sure."

There will be no big celebrations for Europe's leading triple jumpers, but perhaps a few small ones as Tatyana Lebedeva and Hrysopiyi Devetzi, who won bronze and silver at the Athens Games, swapped places with the Russian who also finished second in Sydney picking up her second silver.

Francoise Mbango of Cameroon retained her title with an Olympic record of 15.39m as six women jumped more than 15 metres for the first time. Lebedeva was only 2cm short of her best at 15.32m while Devetzi took bronze with 15.23m and all the fireworks started with a Slovenian record of 15.03m for Marija Sestak.

Britain's Jeanette Kwayke played her part in a thrilling 100m final in which the Jamaicans swept the medals for the first time in Olympic history.

Kwakye finished sixth, breaking her PB by 0.04s with 11.14. But that was no match for Shelly-Ann Fraser who stormed to gold in 10.78, the second best time in Olympic history and Jamaica's first gold in this event.
 
She was chased home by Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart who couldn't be separated on the line. Both credited with 10.98 the judges decided to award both the silver medal.

There was no place in the final for the reigning Champion Yuliya Nesterenko, nor for Kim Gevaert, the double European Champion from Belgium. They could only finish fifth and sixth in the second semi leaving Kwakye to fly the flag for Europe.

Another Olympic record came in the men's 10,000m in which Kenenisa Bekele retained his title in 27:01.17, and Bayrak Selim broke the Turkish record in 11th, the highest placed European.

The manner of Bekele's victory was rather familiar, but there's also something rather reminiscent about the way Christine Ohuruogu is negotiating the rounds of the women's 400m. At the World Championships last year she gradually improved race by race, as if she was gearing up for something special. Which she was.

She seems to be doing the same in Beijing and today the Briton won the first of three semi-finals in her quickest time of the year, 50.14, without really trying too hard. She always likes to come from behind, and she appears to have that extra strength over the final straight that she used to such good effect 12 months ago.

Of course, there was no Sanya Richards last year, and the American world number one matched the World Champion here in winning her semi, but ran a touch quicker at 49.90. Like Ohuruogu, she was easing up at the line, but is a little worried by the Britain's form.

"The final is going to be tough," she said. "Christine looked great."

There won't be a repeat of Britain's one-two from last year though, as Nicola Sanders, the Osaka silver medallist, could only finish fourth in the third semi-final. Sanders has had an injury-hampered season and was clearly not in the form of 2007.

Yuliya Gushchina of Russia clinched her final place in 50.48 and she'll be joined by Italy's Libania Grenot Martinez, the surprise package of the competition so far.
 
Three Europeans will contest the final of the men's 1,500m, including Briton Andy Baddeley who ran an astute race to finish second in the second semi-final. He'll be joined by Frenchman Mehdi Baala but the World Champion and 2004 silver medallist Bernard Lagat will now have to concentrate on the 5,000m.

The American came here seeking a repeat of his Osaka double but struggled in sixth in 3:37.79, missing the final by 0.02s. Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi, the 2005 World Champion, and Kenyan Asbel Kiprop, look to be the men Baddeley and Baala will need to beat.

Sweden's Susanna Kallur will challenge the mighty US and Jamaican sprint hurdlers in the semi-finals tomorrow. The European Champion appeared untroubled by her recent injury worries as she ran 12.68 to qualify from the heats as equal fastest with Spain's Josephin Onyia.

US Champion, and favourite, Lolo Jones looked the class of the round, negotiating the barriers with a graceful ease. The World Indoor Champion this year, she won heat 4 in 12.71.

Nine European women qualified from the opening round of the 400m Hurdles, with Russia's Ekaterina Bikert marginally the fastest at 55.15. Ukraine's Anastasiya Rabchenyuk with 55.18 and Britain's Tasha Danvers with 55.19, a season's best, also won their heats.

World number one Melaine Walker was the quickest of all though. The Jamaican was a comfortable heat winner in 54.46 and clearly has much to spare.

More medals are guaranteed in the men's High Jump after all but one of the qualifiers from today's round are from Europe.

European Athletics (EAA)