The steeplechase race is an interesting event to watch. There are barriers around the track and even a waterjump. It is quite different to hurdling. This hub has more about the steeplechase.

A steeplechase race is mostly 3000 meters. Laps can vary depending on if the water jump is located to the inside of lane one or to the outside of lane eight or nine. A total of 28 barriers are encountered by each runner over the course of the race, as well as 7 water jumps. Under IAAF rules, barrier height is 914 mm (36 in) for men and 762 mm (30 in) for women. In steeplechase barriers do not fall over if hit; some runners actually step on top of them. Four barriers are spaced around the track on level ground, and a fifth barrier at the top of the second turn is the water jump, which consists of a barrier followed by a pit of water which is 3.66 m (12 ft) long and slopes upward from 700 mm (27.6 in) deep at the barrier end to even with the surface of the track. If you are a runner with good hurdling ability then you can be rewarded, because a longer jump results in a shallower landing in the water.