Aneta Konieczek ran her first steeplechase since the Tokyo Olympics. Photo by Cierra Hitner
It had been over eight months since Oregon senior Aneta Konieczek last competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase – at the Tokyo Olympics. On Friday night at Hayward Field, the Polish Olympian held off Oregon State junior Grace Fetherstonhaugh to win by four-tenths of a second.
Konieczek finished in 9 minutes, 44.72 seconds.
“I was really looking forward to it,” said Konieczek. “I’m glad I got to do it today at Hayward – at home.”
Konieczek led the field from the gun. With four laps to go, Oregon State junior Kaylee Mitchell, Fetherstonhaugh and Wisconsin graduate student Alissa Niggemann rounded out the top four. Niggemann faded with 1,200 meters remaining.
Soon after, Fetherstonhaugh passed her teammate and tucked right behind Konieczek on the homestretch. Fetherstonhaugh attempted one last unsuccessful surge for the lead after clearing the final barrier. The pair ran their fastest lap of the night on the bell lap. Konieczek never trailed.
Konieczek admitted that the close finish came as a surprise.
“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to have anyone (near),” said Konieczek. “But then, you know, she was next to me and I was like, ‘Oh no, I got to finish.’”
After the race, Konieczek showed some new ink fitting for an Olympian. Tattooed on her back on the left side are the five Olympic rings. She said she chose the left side so people could see it when she passed them.
“I never wanted a tattoo,” said Konieczek. “But when I was younger, I always said that if I ever go to the Olympics, that’s the only one I’m gonna get.”
