"CHINESE GO WILD With World Records"

Beijing, September 8-13 - The shocking showing of the Chinese distance women in Stuttgart was only a prelude to their efforts at the Chinese National Games. By the time the last beam had been broken, six had gone under previous WRs a total of 14 times and experts then world over were shaking their heads in stunned disbelief (see p.4).

The meet began hot and stayed that way. On day one, Wang Junxia, the Stuttgart 1 OK champ, followed veteran Zhong Huandi for more than 17 laps of the 10,000. Zhong had passed halfway in 15:05.69, and five laps later they were still on even pace to challenge lngrid Kristiansen’s WR 30: 13.74 from ‘86. Wang, running well within herself, finally unleashed her kick with 3000 remaining. She tore through the next kilo in 2:45.6, and followed with a 2:44.9. She needed to run her last kilo in only 3:28.9 to break the mark, but hammered a 2:47.0 to finish in an historic 29:31.78, continuing to run, with arms raised, after the finish. Zhong, a half lap behind, came home in 30:13.37, also under the record.

Wang’s performance put the world on notice that more records would follow. She had run her last 5000 in 14:26.0, well under Kristiansen’s WR 14:37.33. Truly unbelievable was Wang’s last 3000, clocked by Omega in 8:17.47, more than five seconds faster than Tatyana Kazankina’s WR from ‘84. Wang and her compatriots had more races to run. Two days later, in the heats of the 1500, she ran 4:01.55 Stuttgart 3000 champ Qu Yunxia led the qualifiers at 359.38; the 12th and slowest qualifier ran 4:02.44 The next day, teammate Liu Dong acted as rabbit in a planned assault on Kazankina’s WR 3:52.47 - a mark that had stood for 13 years.

Liu, the World 1500 champ, embarked on an ambitious pace that favored her more talented training partners. She hit 400 in 57.1, 800 in 2:00.7, and stepped off the track. Qu took the initiative, with Wang following. They covered the next lap in 64.5. Qu who had earlier run a 1:56.24 for 2nd in the 800 to Liu’s 1:55.54, took advantage of her superior speed to get a meter ahead of Wang. With 200 left, Wang made a last-gasp effort to take the lead, but Qu prevailed. She emerged triumphant with a 350.46 WR. Wang also bettered the record with her 351.92.

Zhang Linli, 2nd in the Stuttgart 3000, finished well back at 357.46. Altogether, 7 women broke 4:00, including 17-year-old Wang Yuan, whose 3:59.81 bettered the WJR she had set in the heats. Three days earlier she had toppled Maria Mutola’s WJR with her 157.18 in the 800 heats. A day later, the heats of the 3000 shocked even more. In the first, Zhang Linli and Zhang Lirong both cruised under Kazankina’s WR of 822.62, running 822.06 and 822.44 respectively. It was a WR fated to last only some 14 minutes.

In the second heat, Qu teamed up with Wang Junxia and lesser-known teammate Ma Liin. Training partner Wang Yanfang set the pace for a quick 529.43 at 2000 before she faded. As Qu and Wang Junxia gradually sped up, Ma lost contact but did not fade. Wang edged ahead at the finish, her 8:12.19 shattering Zhang’s mark by 9.87. Qu finished just 0.08 back (8: 12.27). Ma also ducked under the mark with her 8:19.78.

A day later, Wang and Qu faced each other again to settle the score. This time, no rabbits led the way. Wang moved to the fore and hit 1000 in 2:42.0. She lagged on her next kilo, running 2:47.7 for a 529.65, slower than the heat. In her sixth race in as many days, Qu finally found her speed blunted. She could not pull even with Wang, who had unleashed her trademark kick.

On the last lap, the margin grew steadily, and before long it was not a question of who would win; it was how much damage they would do to the record. Wang covered the last kilo in 236.4 and crossed the line in a stunning 8:06.11. Qu also broke the mark - by the barest of margins - finishing in 8:12.18. Three others trounced the ghost of Kazankina: Zhang Linli (8:16.50), Ma (8:21.26) and Zhang Lirong (8:21.84). 

MEN’S EVENTS 

-100( 2.0). Li Tao 10.24 = NR. 200, Huang Tanwei 20.92. 400. fhao Cunlin 45.85 NR. 600, Mu Weiguo 1:49.27. 1500. Liu Fuxiang 348.68. St. Sun Ripeng 824.97 NR, NJR (2.2 WJ). 5000, Hong Buo 13:32.46. 10,000 Jiu Shangxuan 28:40.81. 110H. Chen Yanhao 13.59; 2. Li Tong (Tony Lii 13.59. 4OOH, Yang Xianjun 49.59 NR. 2OkmW (questionable distance), Chen Shaoguo 1:19.43. 50kmW. Li Mingcai 3:49.17. 4x100, Guandong 39.16. 4x400, Beijing 3:08.54. HJ. Xu Yang 7-7 (2.31). PV, Liang Xwren 17-4 1/2 (530)). LJ. Huang Gang 27-T/r (8.30) TJ, Zou Sixin 56- 7 1/2 (17.26). SP, Liu Hao 64-8x (19.72). DT, Li Shao 199-8 (60.88). HT, Bi Zhong 237-l 1 (72.52). JT, Zhang Lianbiao 257-7 (78.52). Dee, Guo Jin 7780. 

WOMEN’S EVENTS

100  (4.0). Liu Xiaomei 11.02 NR. 200 (-2.1). Chen Zhaojii 22.s NR. 400. Ma Yuqing 49.81 &JR @L); 2. Zhang Henyun 51.25 NJR. SW. Liu thng 155.54 NR; 2. Qu Yunxia 1324; 3. Liu Li 1:57.18 (57.6159.6); 4. Lu YI 1:57.7? (4,4 WJ); 5. Wang Yuan 158.16 (x, 7 WJ); 6. Chen Xeuhui 158.48. Heats: II-l. Liu Li 156.96 NR (57.1159-g); 2, Wang Ym lS7.18WJR(oldWJR 1:57.63MutoIa (Moz] 31). Ill-l. Liu Dung 15625 NR (55.5/80.8); 2. Lu Yi 159.39 (11, x WJ). 1500, Qu Yunxia 3:50,46 WR (old WR 3:52.47 Karankina [sy 730) (45.3); 2. Wang Junxia 3151.92 (2, 2 W); 3. Zhang Linli 357.46; 4. Wang Hongrrmi 3S8.64; 5. Liu Li 3:59.34; 6, Zhang Lirong 359.70; 7. Wang Yuan 3:59.81 WJR (old WR 4:01.79 Wang in heats); 8. Lu Yi 4:00.05 (3, 3 WJ); 9. Li Ying 4:02.12;...rabbit - Liu Dong (57.1.63.6 [2a.7]). (best-ever mark-for-place: l-2, 7-9  Heats: l-5. Wang Yuan 4R1.79 WJR (oM WJR  4:04.39Pieterse [GB] 85) (2,3 WJ); 6. Lu VI 4:01.82  (3.5 WJ). 23.4); 2. Qu Yunxia 8:12.18 (2.2 W); 3. Zhang Linli 8:16.50 (3, 5 W); 4. Ma Liin 82126 (x, 7 W); 5. Zhang Lirong 8:21.84 (5,s W); 6. Wei Li 8D9.74; 7. Zhong Huandi 8:41.67; 8. Li Ying 8:42.39; 9. Wang Hongrnei 8:49.86; IO. Wang Xiujie 83.94. (bestever mark-for-place: l-5) Heats l-l. Zharg Linli 8:22.06 WR (dd WR 822.62 bnkina pq’84); 2. Zhang Lirong 822.44 (2.2 VV). (besteer mark-for-place: l-2) II-l. Wang Junxia 8:12.19 WR @Ad WR 822.06 Zhang in ptmhous heat); 2. Qu Yunxia 8:1227 (2.2 W) (2:43X); 3. Ma Liin 8zl9.78 (3, 3 W); 4. Wei Li 8:47.96. (best- mark-for-place: l-3) 10,000, Wang Junxia 2931.78 WR (old WR 3OA3.74 Kristiansem IrJor] ‘86) (15zO!U/l4:26.0) (last 3K-8:17.47); 2. Zhong Huandi 30:13.37 (15zO5.~15fl7.68) (2.2 w); 3. Zhang Lirong 31:09.25 (9. x W); 4. Ma Liyan 31:10.46 (11, x VV); 5. Zhang Linli 31:1628; 6. Liu Jianying 3123.92; 7. Wei Li 3128.83; 8. Wang Yongmei 31131.54; 9. Feng Wenhui 31:32.15; IO. Wang Xiuting 31:3223; 11. Wang Yanfang 31:32.50; 12. Wang Dongmei 31:50.39; 13. Dong Li 31:52.59;...dnf+ Ningning. (Leader: Zhong Huandi 2:54.7,3:01.8 r556.51. 3:02.6 [8:59.1], 3:03.6 [12:02-q. 3:03-O [15:05.69], 301.3 [lS:lO.O], 3:04.3 [21:14.3]; Wang Junxia 2:45.6 [23.59.9], 2:44.9 f28:44.8].2:47.0). (best-ever mark-for-place: 1-13) lOOH(0.1). Zhang Yu 12.64 NR. 4CUM-i. Han Qing 53.96 NR;...5. Bong Liwun 55.72 NJR (4,7 WJ). IOkmW, Li Chunxiu 41:48 NR (3.3 W); 2. Gao l-bngbiao 41157 WJR (old WJR 43:45 Jin Bingjie [Chn] ‘87) (6,6 W); 3. Wang Yan 42.46; 4. Gu Yan 42150; 5. Liu Hongyu 4301. 4x100, Gumgxi 43.16 NR. 4x400, Hebei 32428 NR (No. 8 Nation); 2. Guangxi 328.58. 

Field Events

HJ, Jin Ling 64% (1.94). W. Ma Madan 23-2~ (7.06) (22-10’%/8.97). TJ, Wu Ruiping 4610%/1429 WJR (old WJR 45P~13.91 Wu 33) (1 I, x W) (f, 46- 1%~ (ac: 1, I, WJJ, f. f. f. 4610?!) (f, 14.06~. f, I, f. 1429). S P , Zhou Tii 65T?4 @MO); 2. Huang Zhihong 65-3x (19.90). DT. Cao Qi 218-9 (66.08). JT, Ha Xiaoyan 214-8 (65.44); 2. Zhang Li 210-2 (64.06). Hept, Ma Miaoian 6750 NR (10, x W) (1328, 6 2!Ul.89,49-lM4.98.23.86 [4030]; 2%9’%/6.64,147- Z/44.86,2:15.33 [2720)); 2. Zhu Yuqing 6394 (13.05). 3000, Wang Junxia 8:06.11 WR (old WR 8:12.19 Wang in heats) (2:42.0. 2:47.7 (529.85-6, 6 WJ,

After claiming the 3K and 10K bests and topping the old 1500 WR, Want said, “I think I can break WRs again.”

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