Avinash Sable after his win at the Asian Games (this photo was downloaded from the event's Facebook page and is being used here for representation purpose. No copyright infringement intended)
Asian Games: Sable gets gold in 3000m steeplechase
Avinash Sable has become the first Indian man to win a gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the Asian Games.
On October 1, 2023 (Sunday), at the ongoing edition of the Games in Hangzhou, China, he completed the race in eight minutes, 19.50 seconds, a new Asian Games record. The previous record of 8:22.79 was set by Iran's Hossein Keyhani at the 2018 Jakarta Games. Following Sable to silver and bronze respectively were Japan's Ryoma Aoki (8:23.75) and Seiya Sunada (8:26.47).
`` Unlike his energy conservation strategy at the Budapest World Championships, Sable raced ahead to build a distance between himself and the rest of the field and won the race by a massive distance. In the final 50m, Sable turned around to see no one close to him as he approached the end and celebrated as he crossed the finish line,'' Sportstar noted while reporting Sable's win.
Sable holds the national record in the 3000m steeplechase – 8:11.20. That mark was set at the Commonwealth Games in Brimingham in 2022, where Sable took silver. The first Indian to win a gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the Asian Games was Sudha Singh. She struck gold at the 2010 Guangzhou Games.
In addition to his prominence in the steeplechase, Sable holds the national record in the men's 5000m (13:19.30). He also holds the national record in the half marathon - one hour, 30 seconds (1:00:30) set at the 2020 Delhi Half Marathon.
New course records at 2023 Spartathlon
The 2023 Spartathlon witnessed new course records in both the women's and men's races.
American ultrarunner, Camille Heron, who won the women's race finished in 22 hours, 35 minutes and 25 seconds. This was an improvement in the women's course record by over two hours, Canadian Running Magazine informed. The previous record was held by Patrycja Bereznowska; 24:48:18 set in 2018. Finnish runners Noora Honkala (23:22:56) and Satu Lipiainen (23:48:28) finished second and third respectively.
In the men's section, Fotis Zisimopoulos (19:55:02) won with a new course record. The previous record was in the name of Yiannis Kouros (20:25:00) set in 1984, the magazine said. Second place went to Simen Holvik of Norway (22:17:17). Uruguay's Andres Fernando Roman Martinez (23:32:53) placed third.
Held annually in Greece, Spartathlon has a course length of 246 kilometres.
(The authors, Latha Venkatraman and Shyam G Menon, are independent journalists based in Mumbai. The 2023 Spartathlon timings quoted herein have been taken from the results provided on the race website.)
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