What a way to end the day for India at the Paris Olympics, with history being made by none other than Avinash Sable, who became the first Indian man to qualify for the men’s 3000m steeplechase final on Monday. Sable finished fifth in his heat with a timing of 8:15.43 minutes to qualify among the top 15 in the event. In steeplechase, there are three heats and the top five from each heat qualify for the final.
The Indian’s heat was won by Moroccan Mohamed Tindouft with his personal best timing of 8:10.62 minutes. Sable started off the heat leading the pack for exactly one lap, by the end of which Kenyan Abraham Kiriwot overtook the Indian with ease. Sable slowly stepped down to fifth, the last position for qualification, and kept his run efficient and consistent, never teetering any lower, and keeping his pace up with the rest of the top four. With multiple lead changes, by the end of the last lap, it was set in stone that the top five including Sable were above the rest of the crop, and the Indian comfortably sealed his spot in the final.
Earlier, Kiran, who turned 24 on Monday, clocked 52.51 seconds which was well below her seasons and personal best of 50.92 seconds. World champion Marileidy Paulino of Dominica won the heat with a time of 49.42, followed by Aaliyah Butler (50.52) of USA and Susanne Gogl-Walli (50.67) of Austria. Top three in each of the six heats advanced to the semifinal. All the others—except for DNS (Did Not Start), DNF (Did Not Finish), and DQ (Disqualified)—moved to the repechage round to be held on Tuesday.
Pahal had made direct qualification to the Paris Olympics after clocking her personal best of 50.92 seconds in the National Inter-State Championships in June. A repechage round was introduced in the Paris Olympics for all individual track events from 200m to 1500m, including the hurdles events. The new format replaced the earlier one where some athletes advanced to the semifinals through fastest times in addition to the top placings in the first-round heats. Instead, only the athletes in the top placings will get automatic qualification and all the remaining will get a second chance to qualify for the semi-finals by participating in repechage heats.
