Steeplechase is a 3000 meter running event that can only be done in college and beyond. This event has multiple unique qualities that make it stand out from other running events on the track. The most important fact about steeple is that it is only offered starting at the college level and beyond.
First it involves a technique that resembles hurdling, yet with thicker and wider “barriers”; four dry ones to be exact and one with a different height difference that leads to a water pit.
Image by: German Federation
The image above shows a breakdown of the water pit that athletes must jump seven times of their seven and a half lap race. You can see that each gender has a different height difference for this barrier, as well as the others on the track.
All of the barriers cannot be touched by an athletes arms or hands, or they are disqualified from the competition. The water barrier is the only one that athletes use to push off of while attempting to clear the water pit and land as far out of the water as possible to continue their race. The further the athlete lands, the less wet they get, and the easier it is to shift back to their running pace and form.