Amos Serem outkicks El Bakkali to take first Diamond League final victory

Former World Under 20 champion Amos Serem is now a Diamond League trophy winner after dominating the men's 3000m steeplechase final at the Brussels Diamond League on Friday.

The 22-year-old Kenyan accelerated on the final lap to leave perennial distance winner, Soufiane El Bakkali in his wake, clocking 8:06.90 to take the hugely impressive win at the King Baudouin Stadium.

Serem, who had clung onto El Bakkali's coattails to come second in Silesia at the end of August, wasn't ready to finish as bridesmaid once again, as he seamlessly took the lead of the race, never to relinquish it.

The Commonwealth Games silver medalist, as if reading from a script that has seen him finish second on three separate occasions this season, had a look behind as he hit the bell, and once he felt the presence of a lurking yet dominant figure of El Bakkali, took to his heels and into the distance.

When his lead looked to be in danger, he responded with a fine hurdle in the water jump to take the victory that sent him into glorious celebrations.

In fact, Serem was the first man to beat El Bakkali on the track this season, as he came second timing 8:08.60.

Tunisia's Mohamed Jhinaoui was third clocking 8:09.68, with Kenya's Abraham Kibiwot finishing fourth in 8:10.51.

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5000m disappointment

There was nothing to smile about however in the men's 5000m event, as all Kenyan runners failed to register a proper go at victory.

At the end of a see-saw race, it was the Ethiopians who ruled, taking up the top three positions led by winner Berihu Aregawi, who won his second Diamond League trophy after outkicking compatriot Hagos Gebrihwet in a season best time of 12:43.66.

Nicholas Kimeli was Kenya's best finisher in fourth timing 12:49.59, which was also a season best.

Other Kenyan runners - Jacob Krop, Cornelius Kemboi and Olympic silver-medalist Ronald Kwemoi - struggled to keep up with the pace, finishing seventh, eighth, and 10th respectively.