What is the steeplechase, and how is it won?
B · Beginner · The event and the start · 1 of 5The steeplechase is a 3000 m race with 28 hurdle jumps and 7 water jumps. The hurdles are heavy and do not fall, so athletes may step on them. Every athlete must go over each one and over or through the water. The first to get their torso to the finish line wins.
How it works
- The distances: "The standard distances shall be: 2000m and 3000m."
- 3000 m: 28 hurdle jumps and 7 water jumps.
- 2000 m: 18 hurdle jumps and 5 water jumps.
- A lap: five jumps, spaced evenly, with the water jump as the fourth.
- The opening stretch: the run from the start to the beginning of the first full lap has no jumps. The hurdles are put in place once the athletes have passed.
- Height: 0.914 m for men and 0.762 m for women.
- The start: standing, on a curved line, with the single command "On your marks". The race is not run in lanes.
- Every barrier: "Each athlete shall go over or through the water and shall go over each hurdle."
- Any manner: as long as that is done, "an athlete may go over each hurdle in any manner".
- The inside: on a bend an athlete may not step on or inside the kerb or line marking the inside of the track, including the curved path to the water jump.
- The finish: athletes are placed in the order in which the torso reaches the finish line.
Tricky cases
Can an athlete put a foot on top of the hurdle?
Yes. The hurdle may be cleared in any manner, as long as the athlete goes over it.
Does an athlete have to jump clear of the water?
No. The rule says "over or through the water".
Is the steeplechase run in lanes?
No. Athletes start on a curved line and run on the inside of the track.
Are there barriers in the first few metres?
No. The stretch from the start line to the beginning of the first lap has none.
Why the rule exists
The steeplechase is a distance race with obstacles that tire the legs and break the rhythm. The rules fix how many obstacles there are and make each one unavoidable. How to get over them is left to the athlete.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 23 |
| Under-18 men | The hurdles are 0.838 m high | TR 23.5 |
| 2000 m | The first jump is at the third hurdle of a lap | TR 23.3 |
| Large fields | More than 12 athletes may start in two groups, where the water jump is inside the track | TR 17.5.2 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 16.4, 17.2.4 and 23. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).