Ready, set, go! Australia runs to steeplechase gold and bronze

On the fourth day of athletics at the Chengdu FISU World University Games, Australia’s Cara Feain-Ryan was golden in the women’s 3000m steeplechase with a time of 9:46.02.

“It’s a little bit surreal. I was hoping for a medal from the championships but to win is even better,” said the University of Queensland athlete.

“This performance is absolutely the best result I could have imagined. It’s not my personal best but in the conditions in the heat I was never expecting to run that. So, I was just trying to execute a strong race.”

Feain-Ryan was constant throughout the race but remained in second place behind Türkiye’s Semra Karaslan for much of the race, at some points by as much as 40 meters. In the last 200, however, she passed her rival and cruised to victory by over four seconds.

“It was a really tough race,” she said. “When there was such a big gap to the athlete in front, I wasn’t quite sure what the last few laps would hold. But I just tried to stay as relaxed as I could.

“The crowd here is great. I mean, they cheered the whole way not necessarily for me, but you just really use that to push you on.”

Karaslan placed second in 9:50.42, just ahead of Feain-Ryan’s teammate Georgia Winkcup (9:51.22).

In a very close-fought men’s 400 hurdles final, Peng Ming-yang from Chinese Taipei clocked 48.62 to edge Ismail Nezir of Turkiye (48.72) and China’s Xie Zhiyu (48.78).

Nezir was thrilled to add to his country’s medal count thanks to a personal best.

“I’m really excited, it’s an incredible experience because these Games are huge. I’m happy because I met my goal, and I’m so proud of myself and of my country.

“The races were very fast, so I congratulated my opponents too. I think that the way that you think is decisive, that is why I tried to focus only on the competition.”

Nezir now has his sights set on an even bigger event.

“After these Games, I’m going to run in the world championships in Budapest. I want to be in the final and I hope to win the gold.”

In the women’s pole vault, Switzerland’s Angelica Moser claimed gold with a jump of 4.62m followed by Chen Qiaoling from China (4.30) and Albane Dordain of France (4.30).

The women’s 200m ended in a 1-2 finish for Poland, with Nikola Horowska (23.00) edging teammate Marlena Granaszewska (23.20). The bronze medal went to South Africa’s Banele Shabangu (23.29).

In the last final of the day at the crowded Shuangliu Sports Centre Stadium, the men’s 200, Isadore Matsoso from South Africa secured gold (20.36), followed by Japan’s Nishi Yudai (20.46) and India’s Amlan Borgohain (20.55).

Other athletics champions crowned on Friday in Chengdu included China’s Wang Qi (men’s hammer throw) and Slovakia’s Forster Viktoria (women’s 100m hurdles).

Written by Julieta Boschiazzo, FISU Young Reporter