steeplechase

世界陸上・男子3000メートル障害で、ケニアのケンボイ選手が力の差を見せつけ、4連覇を達成しました。また、ケニア勢としても上位4位まで独占しました。

Atop Medal Table at Worlds, Kenya Is Also Under a Cloud

It appeared to be business as usual for Kenya at the world track and field championships Monday night.
Vivian Cheruiyot won another women’s distance title, her second in the 10,000 meters. Ezekiel Kemboi then led another Kenyan medal sweep in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase and, as usual, still had the energy to dance on the track after his latest devastating kick.
“I will be celebrating tonight with my teammates,” Kemboi said.
So it has gone for decades, and the sports world is generally quite comfortable with the received wisdom that Kenyan success derives from the natural advantages conferred by the Great Rift Valley’s altitude and the motivation that comes from living in a society in which running is one of the few pathways to international fame and fortune.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/sports/kenyan-runners-find-their-success-is-no-longer-free-of-scrutiny.html?ref=sports&_r=0

今回取り上げるのは、“steeplechase”という表現です。LDOCEで調べてみると、“a long race in which people run and jump over fences, water etc”という定義が見つかりました。さらに『ジーニアス英和辞典G4 大修館書店』で確認してみると、「障害物競馬（競走）〈陸上競技では主に3000mレースをさす〉」とありました。また語源を調べてみると、18世紀半ばにイギリスで行われたクロスカントリーが、教会の尖塔を発着点として行われたことから由来しているそうです。(ninetails)