1983 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 3000 metres

None These are the official results of the Women's 3,000 metres event at the 1983 IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. There were a total number of 26 participating athletes, with two qualifying heats and the final held on Wednesday 1983-08-10. The final was led from start to finish by Mary Decker-Slaney, a common tactic for her in the USA, but untested at the world level. Marking her every move throughout the race was the Soviet pair of 1500 metres world record holder Tatyana Kazankina and 3000 metres world record holder Svetlana Ulmasova who expected to use their superior finishing speed. As Decker gradually increased the pace, the field stretched out to a lead pack of five, with Wendy Smith-Sly and Agnese Possamai. As the final lap approached, Sly, who ran in the USA frequently, moved to join Decker on her shoulder, while Brigitte Kraus covered the gap to join the lead pack. The Decker/Sly wall kept the Soviet runners boxed in for half a lap, but when Kraus moved on the rail, Kazankina popped free and the race was on to the finish. Coming off the final turn Kazankina looked ready to pass Decker, but she never got there as Decker found an extra gear to hold her off. Kazankina eventually slowed before the finish to be passed by a fast closing Kraus two steps before the line. Medalists GoldUSA Mary DeckerUnited States (USA)SilverFRG Brigitte KrausWest Germany (FRG)BronzeURS Tatyana KazankinaSoviet Union (URS) Records Existing records at the start of the event. World recordSvetlana Ulmasova URS8:26.78Kiev, USSRJuly 25, 1982Championship recordNew event Final RANKFINALTIMEImage:Med 1.pngMary Decker USA8:34.62Image:Med 2.pngBrigitte Kraus FRG8:35.11Image:Med 3.pngTatyana Kazankina URS8:35.134.Svetlana Ulmasova URS8:35.555.Wendy Sly GBR8:37.066.Agnese Possamai ITA8:37.967.Jane Furniss GBR8:45.698.Natalya Artyomova URS8:47.989.Aurora Cunha POR8:50.2010.Lynn Kanuka CAN8:50.2011.Cornelia Bürki SUI8:53.8512.Eva Ernström SWE8:57.5913.Christine Benning GBR8:58.0114.Lorraine Moller NZL9:02.1915.Alison Wiley CAN9:15.35 Qualifying heats Held on Monday 1983-08-08 RANKHEAT 1TIME1.Svetlana Ulmasova URS8:46.652.Agnese Possamai ITA8:46.683.Brigitte Kraus FRG8:47.254.Wendy Sly GBR8:47.395.Christine Benning GBR8:49.716.Aurora Cunha POR8:51.667.Natalya Artyomova URS8:54.148.Lynn Kanuka CAN8:54.619.Geri Fitch CAN9:01.8510.Monica Joyce IRL9:14.8311.Helena Hyvonen FIN9:19.6512.Brenda Webb USA9:24.3813.Marcianne Mukamurenzi RWA 19629:26.5914.Marit Holtklimpen NOR9:43.4015.Khadija Al Matari JOR10:49.62Betty Van Steenbroeck BELDNF RANKHEAT 2TIME1.Tatyana Kazankina URS8:44.722.Mary Decker USA8:44.723.Cornelia Bürki SUI8:46.944.Jane Furniss GBR8:48.595.Alison Wiley CAN8:51.276.Lorraine Moller NZL8:51.787.Eva Ernström SWE8:51.918.Ivana Kleinová TCH8:55.549.Maggie Keyes-Kraft USA9:01.9710.Vera Michallek FRG9:04.5111.Marica Mršić YUG9:05.5912.Pilar Fernández ESP9:10.8613.Maria Radu ROU 19659:30.3714.Mónica Regonessi CHI9:31.9515.Kriscia García ESA10:06.14 References Results Category:5000 metres at the World Athletics Championships