Lalita breaks tiol record, enters 3,000m steeplechase fil

Beijing, Aug 24: Indian middle distance runner Lalita Babar broke the tiol record to qualify for the fil of the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships here on Monday. Lalita qualified with a timing of nine minutes, 27.86 seconds to finish fourth in her heat at the Bird’s Nest Stadium.

The reigning Asian champion bettered her own previous tiol record of 9:34:13 by more than six seconds. She is the first Indian to have qualified for the 3000m steeplechase fil in a World Championships.

Lalita entered the fil round as one of the six fastest timers outside the three top finishers in each of the three heats who got automatic qualification.

Olympic silver medallist Habiba Ghribi of Tunisia won her heat in 9:24.38 to enter the fil as the best performer in the qualifiers. Gesa Felicitas Krause of Germany set the second fastest time of 9:24.92 while Ethiopia’s Hiwot Ayalew was third fastest with 9:25.55 in the heats.

A total of 15 runners have qualified for the fil which will take place on Wednesday. IANS