2014 World Junior Championships

Stella Radford set a fabulous new personal best, and MUAC record of 10.19.29s to qualify for Saturday’s final of the 3000m Steeplechase at the 2014 World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The MUAC athlete placed 10th in her heat, but progressed with the last of the non-automatic qualifying times.

Radford said “It was the hardest race of my life. I didn’t think it would be a PB because it was so pushy”

“I thought I hadn’t made it. I think I just didn’t do the maths properly. I’m so happy to get through”

Racing in the second heat, Radford and the other competitors knew the time needed to claim the non automatic qualifiers, and the race quickly split into three groups. A leading pack of five who would go on to take the automatic qualifying spots cleared away early. The second group of 8, including Radford, worked hard through the middle of the race conscious that time would determine whether they made the final. Radford drove the pace through the middle laps, comfortably sitting on the front of the pack. Her reward was a PB and a spot in the final in two days time at Hayward Field.

Thanks to Pat Birgan for the reporting from Eugene.