Alesia Turova Sets New World Record in Women's 3K Steeplechase - 2002-06-12

Alesia Turova of Belarus has set a world record in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Golden Spike athletics meet in Ostrava, the Czech Republic.

Turova clocked a world mark of 9:21.72 Wednesday. She edged by .57 of one second the former mark briefly held by Justine Bak of Poland. Turova specializes in the 1,500 meter event and was running the 3,000 meter race for the first time. Bak set the record just last week in Milan, Italy. She trailed Turova by 10.54 seconds. Laurence Duquenoy of France placed third (9:43.89).

In other action, American track star Marion Jones won the women's 200-meter sprint. Jones immediately took the lead, breezing to a comfortable victory well ahead the rest of the field. She was clocked at 22.32 seconds, the best in the world this season. Fellow American Kelli White was second (22.71) ahead of Juliet Campbell of Jamaica (22.75).

Wilson Boit Kipketer of Kenya claimed victory in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase (8:06.14) in front of Brahim Boulami of Morocco (8:07.91) and Kenyan Philip Manyim (8:23.73). Three-time Olympic winner and triple world champion Jan Zelezny of the Czech Republic won the men's javelin with a toss of 86.66 meters.