Etenesh Diro was hoping for a Women’s Steeplechase gold, she was expected to finish on the podium. Her footwear had other ideas.
The Ethiopian was predicted to breeze through her heat in Rio, this morning, but she lost her runner after being into a tangle with her fellow runners.
Etenesh Diro of Ethiopia is trying to catch back up to the leaders after losing her shoe! #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/6xWAL5BKLM
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) August 13, 2016
The incident happened with two laps remaining and, spotting Diro continuing with one runner, drew roars of encouragement from the crowd.
Crowd willing on the Ethiopian steeplechaser Diro, who is running in one shoe after a pile up on the back straight.
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) August 13, 2016
She so, so nearly caught the frontrunners but simply had too much ground to make up. She eventually finished 7th, four agonising seconds off a qualifying position, and time.
Brave effort but Diro didn't qualify, was in tears at the finish. Now being helped off the track.
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) August 13, 2016
All the while, Team Ireland’s Sara Louise Treacy was giving it her all but it was only good enough for 12th place. She had a spill in the same incident that took Diro’s shoe out. Her time of 9:49.24 was some 12 seconds behind Diro and 16 off a top four finish.
There was a fantastic reprieve for the Meath athlete as some disqualifications saw her make the final cut.
Big news…due to pushing and barging Sara Tracey has been added to the final of 3k steeple. @RTEsport
— David Gillick (@DavidGillick) August 13, 2016
In even better news – DIRO IS ALSO IN THE FINAL! The same appeal turned out in favour of the Ethiopian.
Spare a thought, though, for Team GB’s Lennie Waite. She finished 17th after getting around, up and down in a time of 10:14.18. That was 37 seconds behind the brave Diro.
Michelle Finn [9:49.45] was 11th in her heat while Kerry O’Flaherty only finished 14th in her heat despite running it in a season’s best 9:45.35.
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