USF's Krchova Turns In Impressive Steeplechase Run at European Championships
7/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
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OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — USF's Eva Krchova continued her impressive track season by turning in the fastest 3000m steeplechase time at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
Krchova made a giant stride by shaving 10 seconds off her personal best to a run the race in 9:55.99 in hot conditions. She not only won her heat of 11 runners, but was the fastest of all 22 competitors in the event.
"When I finished I looked at the timetable and was surprised by the big PR," Krchova said. "I knew we were going fast, but I slowed down in the last 100 meters, so a 10-second PR is wonderful knowing there is more within me."
Krchova's goal going into the race was the finish in the top four and advance to the finals, but she ended up outgrowing that goal. She ran with the first four women in the race for five laps, but then the pack started to spread out.
"I felt strong through all of the steeples, the hurdles went great and I also felt confident on every water jump," Krchova said. "With two laps to go I put myself in the second position and still felt great. I continued on attacking every hurdle. With one lap to go it was just me and the girl from Norway Grovdal. We came together into the last one hundred meters. I knew we would not be passed by the rest and we both controlled the field. I guess I jumped better on the last hurdle and that put me in position to finish first."
Making the race even more fun for Krchova was that she was able to run in front of her parents, grandmother, her friends from the Czech Republic and her USF teammates Sophie Curl, Alice Baker, Hayley Niles and Maor Tiyouri.
Tiyouri, who competed for her home country of Israel, ran in the 10000m race the next day and finished 11th with a time of 35.43.01.
