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 "Chinese Runner Shatters
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BEIJING, September 8 (AP)-In one of the most remarkable record-breaking performances ever in track, Wang Junxia of China broke the women’s 10,000 meter world mark by 42 seconds today. Wang’s time of 29 minutes 31.78 seconds was more than a minute better than her previous best, recorded last month in her victory at the world championships at Stuttgart, Germany, and nearly 3 times better than her best time last year. The 20-year old Wang, competing in China’s seventh national games, smashed the record of 30:13.74 set by lngrid Kristiansen of Norway on July 5, 1986.
Half a victory Lap
Wang ran the final 100 meters of the race with none of her competitors in sight. Spectators at Beijing Workers’ Stadium were on their feet cheering her home, and after the race Wang grabbed a Chinese national flag and ran half a victory lap. Wang was so happy she wanted to drape the gold medal around the neck of her coach, Ma Junren. The record underscores the sudden dominance of Chinese runners in women’s distance events. Weng Oingzhang, deputy secretary general of the Chinese Association of Sport Medicine, said Monday that he was aware of suspicions about drug use after Chinese at Stuttgart.
He told an international anti-doping conference in London that China’s success was the result of hard endurance training, not drug use. Wang, the 1992 world junior champion, burst into prominence when she led a l-2 Chinese finish in the 10,000 meters at the world championships. She was timed in 30:49.30, a world junior record and the fastest time in the world this year. Wang said she trains 25 miles a day. Chinese women runners also swept the 1,500- and 3,000-meter events at Stuttgart. The 12-day national games are a showcase for the city’s bid for the 2000 Olympic Committee on Sept. 23.
