Yelena Andreyeva (Russian: Елена Андреева; born 9 May 1969) is a Russian former track and field sprinter who specialised in the 400 metres. Her personal best for the distance was 51.30 seconds, set in 1994. She was a one-time Russian champion and took relay silver medals with Russia at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics and 1994 European Athletics Championships.

Yelena Andreyeva
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1995 Gothenburg 4×400 m relay
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 1994 Helsinki 4×400 m relay

Career

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Her career at the top level of athletics lasted only two years. She rose to prominence at age twenty-five, winning the 400 m title at the Russian Athletics Championships. This was the sole national title of her career, although her winning time of 51.61 seconds was the slowest ever time to merit the title.[1]

She made her international debut at the Goodwill Games in Saint Petersburg that year, running a lifetime best of 51.30 seconds to take fifth in the 400 m before securing a 4×400 metres relay silver medal behind the United States with the Russian team of Yelena Golesheva, Yelena Ruzina, and Tatyana Zakharova.[2] At the 1994 European Athletics Championships she was the fastest 400 m qualifier in the heats and reached the final, where she missed out on the bronze medal in fourth, beaten by Phylis Smith of Great Britain. Another relay silver medal came for her, running alongside Natalya Khrushchelyova, Zakharova and Svetlana Goncharenko, but they were some way behind the French winning team.[3]

In her second and last year of international competition she first competed at the 1995 Summer Universiade. She repeated her European performance, topping the heats round but ending the final in fourth, this time beaten by Ukrainian rival Olena Rurak.[4] Her first international title followed in the 4×400 m relay, as she, Yuliya Sotnikova, Khrushcheleva, and Tatyana Chebykina topped the podium.[5] Andreyeva's final outing proved to be her highest honour as she ran the anchor leg for the Russian women's relay team of Chebykina, Goncharenko, and Sotnikova to earn the silver medal at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics (again runner-up to perennial rivals the United States).[6]

Andreyeva did not compete internationally after 1995, although she ran at national level until 2003.[3]

National titles

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International competitions

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing   Russia
1994 Goodwill Games Saint Petersburg, Russia 5th 400 m 51.30 PB
2nd 4 × 400 m relay 3:25.00
European Championships Helsinki, Finland 4th 400 m 51.65
2nd 4 × 400 m relay 3:24.06
1995 Universiade Fukuoka, Japan 4th 400 m 51.85
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:28.32
World Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 2nd 4 × 400 m relay 3:23.98

References

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  1. ^ Russian Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-10-11.
  2. ^ Goodwill Games Athletics Results 1994. Goodwill Games. Retrieved on 2015-10-11.
  3. ^ a b Yelena Andreyeva. Tilastopaja. Retrieved on 2015-10-11.
  4. ^ Heat 1-- 31 August '95. Universiade1995. Retrieved on 2015-10-11.
  5. ^ women--relay4x400m -- Hakatanomori T&F Stadium. Universiade. Retrieved on 2015-10-11.
  6. ^ Women 4x400m Relay World Championship 1995 Goteborg (SWE) - Sunday 13.08 . Todor66. Retrieved on 2015-10-11.
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