Thrill of the chase

Steeplechase combines tall barriers and long distance racing in one of the most exciting and challenging events that track or field has to offer.

Spencer Farrin | Courtesy Alycia Butterworth jumps over the water barrier in the steeplechase event during the 2011 NCAA West Preliminary Round in Eugene. Butterworth has competed in the steeplechase for eight years.

“With the steeple(chase), you either love it or you hate it,” Idaho Director of Track and Field Wayne Phipps said. “Right off the bat you got to have a … passion for it or a love of the event because it’s not very much fun. It’s taking a really hard distance race and then making it as hard as it possibly can be by adding giant immovable barriers and a water jump to it.”

The steeplechase is usually 3,000-meters long with four barriers per 400-meter lap. One of the four barriers also has water that must be cleared as well — that’s 28 ordinary barriers and seven water jumps.

Runners who don’t pace themselves often get wet by the end of the race as they struggle to clear the water. Many long-time steeplechase runners have unique experiences with the water pit. Idaho sophomore Alycia Butterworth has competed in the event for eight years and has several steeplechase stories.

“There was one race where it was really cold out and as soon (as) I hit the water pit, my legs were just frozen for the rest of race and they just stiffened up,” she said. “I’ve also had the other (extreme), where it was super hot out. I was racing in Florida last summer and I hit the water … it ended up being like a hot tub.”

Usually steeplechase racers don’t notice the water much though, Butterworth said. Getting wet is something steeplechasers are used to.

The steeplechase has a long history. According to sports writer Mike Rosenbaum, the event began as a race between towns where runners would race from one church steeple to another. The modern 3,000-meter steeplechase first appeared in the 1920 Olympics.

Training for the steeplechase includes the long runs and endurance work of distance training as well as technique and repetition of hurdles.

“I really like (the steeplechase) because I’ve always loved hurdles but hurdles are usually short distance in high school,” Idaho sophomore Holly Stanton said. “This way, I could get long distance and get the hurdles in, so it’s kind of both of my strengths.”

Idaho has several accomplished steeplechasers on its 2012 track and field team. On the men’s side, transfer Stephane Colle joins long-time Idaho steeplechaser Alex Brekke. Brekke earned second-team all-WAC honors in the steeplechase in 2009 and 2010. Phipps said he thinks Colle has the potential to surprise people on the national level.

On the women’s side, Butterworth is the most accomplished steeplechaser after earning first-team all-WAC honors in the event as a freshman in 2011. She finished No. 2 in the WAC and is No. 6 in Idaho history. Butterworth also won the 2011 Canada Junior National Title in the 2,000-meter steeplechase last August and represented Canada at the Pan-Am Junior Games in the event. Butterworth also earned an NCAA qualification last year in the 3,000-meter steeplechase as a freshman.

Stanton, also a sophomore, took sixth in the 2011 WAC Championships and was second-team all-WAC in the event.

Joining Butterworth and Stanton as Vandal steeplechasers are Emily Paradis and Laurel Draper. Paradis competed in her first steeplechase at the Buc Scoring Invitational March 24 and placed first in the event.

Phipps said one of the biggest barriers for steeplechase racers is the barrier itself.

“I think one of the things is not having a fear of the barrier,” Phipps said. “Having respect for it but not a fear for it and that’s easier said than done. If you were to hit your knee, your ankle, or your foot, it could definitely be a season-ending injury.”

Stephan Wiebe can be reached at [email protected]