In the 3000m steeplechase, Uldanay Abylkhan from the Turkistan Region quickly made her intentions clear at the Kazakhstan U20 Athletics Championships – for athletes born in 2006 or later.
The medal winners in the women’s 3000m steeplechase were determined on July 4, the second day of the junior national championships, held at the Olympic Training Centre stadium located about 20 kilometers from Almaty.
Uldanay Abylkhan left no doubt about her goal – the gold medal – by setting a pace that, as it turned out, only she could sustain. The runner from Turkistan Region steadily increased her lead and finished the race in a rhythm that suited her well. Her winning time: 11 minutes and 36.26 seconds.
The silver medal went to Yekaterina Tamilina from Almaty. After reclaiming second place during the race, she held onto it with a solid margin. Tamilina’s time was 12:27.75. At 16 years old, she was the youngest athlete in the race.
Anastasiya Mikhailova from Almaty Region managed to hang on until the finish and earned the bronze medal with a time of 13:05.22.
As for Uldanay Abylkhan, it’s fair to say she gave herself a golden birthday gift. The athlete from Turkistan Region turns 18 on July 7. Her time at the junior national championships met the first-class athlete standard.
Just two weeks earlier, in mid-June, Uldanay took second place at the Youth Games, running the same event at the same stadium in 10:59.45 – a result qualifying her as a candidate for master of sport. It’s possible that her slower time now was due to the lack of competition and the hot weather. But her goal was to win, and she did so with confidence.
July 4. Kazakhstan U20 Athletics Championships. 3000m steeplechase. Junior women.
- Uldanay Abylkhan (Turkistan Region) – 11:36.26
- Yekaterina Tamilina (Almaty) – 12:27.75
- Anastasiya Mikhailova (Almaty Region) – 13:05.22
In the photo: July 4. Start of the 3000m steeplechase. No. 135 – Uldanay Abylkhan, No. 43 – Yekaterina Tamilina, No. 62 – Anastasiya Mikhailova.
