SportsJuly 18, 2026

steeplechase

ˈstiːpəlˌtʃeɪs

Definition

A track and field obstacle race in which runners must jump over hurdles and water pits.

Etymology

The term originates from 18th-century horse racing in Ireland, where riders raced across the countryside toward a distant church steeple as a landmark. It eventually evolved into the modern athletic track event involving jumps over fixed barriers.

In the news

The word is used to describe the specific 3000-meter running event in which Taylor Lovell won an NCAA national championship. It highlights the challenging nature of the event, which requires both endurance and agility to clear various barriers.

BYU Roundup: Cougar men’s basketball earns classroom achievement

Read the full article ↗

heraldextra.com

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.