Allison Carney never ran steeplechase before coming to this university.

“I didn’t even know it existed,” Carney said.

Shari Gorga never ran the event in high school either. Sarah Stein only ran the event a few times during her days at Warwick Valley High School in New York.

“People just watched to see the runners fall,” said Stein.

This lack of experience hasn’t stopped all three from being the Terrapin track and field team’s go-to runners for a women’s event that wasn’t NCAA sponsored until 2001.

The steeplechase, similar to the hurdles, requires athletes to race around a track while jumping over barriers. But this is where the similarities end.

The steeplechase is generally longer than most hurdles events, and the barriers that must be cleared do not fall over if hit; instead, they actually stick several inches into the track itself.

“If you run into a hurdle it’s essentially like hitting a brick wall,” Carney said.

One of these barriers is known as the water jump, as runners must clear the barrier and a sloping pit of water directly after the barrier.

In addition to these hazards, an absence of running lanes adds to the potential for injury.

“It is a concern,” track and field coach Andrew Valmon said. “You’re talking about running, jumping and fatigue. These athletes start in lanes, and then it becomes a free-for-all.”

Both Stein and Gorga added that the slope in the water pit increases the chances for ankle and shin injuries. Gorga has sustained ankle injuries in the past competing in the event.

“You can’t really be concerned about [injury]. If you do the steeple, chances are you’re going to get hurt,” Gorga said.

Despite the tendency for injury, all three girls have been steered toward competing in the event since coming to this university.

“We look to bring in athletes we can develop for the steeple,” Valmon said. “No one really runs the event in high school.”

Stein, Gorga and Carney all ran the mile in high school, with Carney and Gorga also competing in the 800-meter run. This experience in middle-to-long distance running made them good candidates for the steeplechase, which requires a good amount of endurance.

Stein and Gorga both ran for the Terp Runners, an on-campus running club, before being approached by Valmon to try for the varsity squad.

“I ran the 400 hurdles,” Gorga said. “Coach said, ‘Let’s try you out at steeple.'”

Carney, the only one of the three girls to be recruited for the track and field team out of high school, didn’t try the steeplechase until this year as a senior.

“I was approached for [the steeplechase] because of my coordination,” Carney said. “I was struggling with the 1500, and I was burnt out, so I said I’d give it a try.”

All three said training for the event isn’t much different from how any of their teammates train.

“You do the same training as the flat races,” Valmon said. “One day a week we just add hurdles. You’re dealing with concentration.”

As much as the athletes train for the event in practice, they don’t have access to the all-important water jump. The women must train with the hurdles and hope their practice prepares them well enough for the meets.

“The first time I jumped the water was in my first race,” Carney said. “It was terrifying,” she added, laughing.

“You get most of your actual training in the race itself,” added Stein.

Training or no training, the Terps have found success in the steeplechase so far this season.

Stein and Gorga finished first and second, respectively, at the Navy Invitational in March. The following week at the Terrapin Invitational Carney finished second, while Stein took first and Gorga finished third, completing the sweep for the Terps.

At the ACC championships two weeks ago, Stein, Carney and Gorga finished 14th, 15th and 16th, respectively.

With the newfound success the Terps have had this season, the three steeplechasers were divided on whether this would draw more athletes to the event.

“I don’t think it will draw more attention,” Gorga said. “Not many people want to do the event because of the injury risk.”

Carney, however, saw a more optimistic future for women’s steeplechase at the university.

“I think since it’s a newer event people are drawn to it because there is a chance to improve it,” Carney said.

“We’ve had a lot more girls interested in the last year,” Stein said. “[Steeplechase] wasn’t stacked with amazing runners before, but now it’s getting more competitive. It’s not a secret anymore.”

Contact reporter Joey Whelan at sports@dbk.umd.edu.