Olena Shurkhno

Shurkhno started her career as a steeplechase specialist and competed at national level in the event until 2005. She set her personal best for the 3000 metres steeplechase of 10:19.19 minutes in 2004 and also timed 10:13.71 in a novel indoor version of the event.[http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/ukraine/olena-shurhno#progression Olena Shurhno]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-02. It was only when she turned her running talents to the road racing circuit in 2007 that her international career blossomed.

Having signed up with Andrey Baranov's Spartanik sports agency,[http://www.spartanik.com/SPARTANIKATHLETES.html Spartanik athletes]. Spartanik. Retrieved on 2013-02-02. she travelled to compete at the Country Music Marathon and her first competitive marathon outing brought her a win in 2:37:52 hours.[http://www.letsrun.com/2007/country2375.php Simon Wangai, Olena Shurkhno Pick Up $17,500 at Country Music Marathon]. Lets Run (2007-04-28). Retrieved on 2013-02-02. She returned to the race the following year and was an improved runner. She did not defend her title, being beaten by Russian Svetlana Ponomarenko, but came second with a much improved time of 2:33:37 hours.Monahan, Ian (2008-04-27). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/chebii-ponomarenko-take-country-music-maratho Chebii, Ponomarenko, take Country Music Marathon victories]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-02. A similar result came at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon later that year, where she was second to Mulu Seboka and ran a new best of 2:30:13 hours.Gains, Paul (2008-09-28). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/seboka-breaks-course-record-at-toronto-marath Seboka Breaks Course Record at Toronto Marathon]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-02.

Her sole outing of 2009 saw her win the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon. She managed third at the same race the following year, but performed less well at the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon, finishing ninth. Shurkhno returned to the top of the marathon podium at the Baltimore Marathon in October.[http://worldmarathonmajors.com/US/athletes/athlete/301/ Oelan Shurhno]. World Marathon Majors. Retrieved on 2013-02-02. The 2011 San Diego Marathon was quick and she dipped under two and half hours for the first time, recording 2:28:34 for fourth while the winner Bizunesh Deba set a state record.Rosenthal, Bert (2011-06-06). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/deba-blazes-22331-at-san-diego-marathon-kef Deba blazes 2:23:31 at San Diego Marathon – Keflezighi has homecoming triumph in Half-Marathon]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-02. Shurkhno set one herself while defending her title at the 2011 Baltimore Marathon, as she clocked a Maryland state record of 2:29:11 hours.Nearman, Steve (2011-10-15). [http://www.runwashington.com/news/3636/475/Olena-Shurkhno-2-29-11-Shatters-Maryland-Record-at-the-Marathon.htm Olena Shurkhno (2:29:11) Shatters Maryland Record at the Marathon]. Run Washington. Retrieved on 2013-02-02.

Moving away from her typical racing grounds in the United States, she competed at the high calibre Nagoya Women's Marathon in Japan in March 2012 and improved her best by almost three minutes, coming seventh in 2:25:49.Nakamura, Ken (2012-03-11). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/mayorova-steals-the-show-in-nagoya-third-time Mayorova steals the show in Nagoya, third time a charm for Ozaki – Report]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-02. She was overlooked for the Ukrainian Olympic team and Tetyana Hamera-Shmyrko set a national record at the event.Nakamura, Ken (2013-01-27). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/ukraines-gamera-shmyrko-leaves-it-late-to-com Ukraine\u2019s Gamera-Shmyrko leaves it late to come from behind and win in Osaka]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-02. This mark did not stand for long as a month later Shurkhno ran a new Ukrainian record time of 2:23:32 hours to place third at the 2012 Berlin Marathon.Butcher, Pat (2012-09-30). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/close-victory-for-mutai-but-more-straightforw-1 Close victory for Mutai but more straightforward for Kebede in Berlin – REPORT]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-01-31.

She is a mother of one (a son) and her hobbies include fishing and mushroom hunting.[http://www.thebaltimoremarathon.com/Assets/Baltimore+Marathon/FemaleElites2011.pdf Female Elites 2011]. Baltimore Marathon. Retrieved on 2013-02-02.

• Half marathon – 1:11:58 (2012)
• 25 kilometres – 1:25:16 (2012)
• 30 kilometres – 1:42:18 (2012)
• Marathon – 2:23:32 (2012)
• 3000 metres steeplechase – 10:19.19 (2004)

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Category:Living people

Category:1978 births

Category:Ukrainian female long-distance runners

Category:Ukrainian female marathon runners

Category:Ukrainian female steeplechase runners