Edmund Serem leads Kenya to historic clean sweep in men’s 3,000m steeplechase
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 27.07.26. | 23:29
This was the 11th clean podium sweep by Kenya in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at a major global outdoor championship. men’s 3x3 basketball gained a commanding win over Fiji.
The question of whether Kenya could reclaim its unquestionable dominance in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase was answered emphatically on Monday, 27 July, as Edmund Serem led the country to a historic clean podium sweep at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
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Serem produced a perfectly timed finish to claim gold in 8:18.23, holding off Monaco Diamond League champion Simon Koech, who settled for silver in 8:18.59, while Leonard Bett completed the Kenyan sweep with bronze in 8:21.63.
The result marked the seventh time Kenya has swept the podium in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games, having previously achieved the feat in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018.
It also reaffirmed the country’s status as the undisputed powerhouse in the event after successfully defending the title won by Abraham Biwott at the last edition in Birmingham.
Overall, it was the 11th clean podium sweep by Kenya in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at a major global outdoor championship.
Besides the seven Commonwealth Games sweeps, Kenya has also monopolised the podium at the World Championships in Athens (1997), Osaka (2007) and Beijing (2015), as well as at the Olympic Games in Barcelona (1992) and Athens (2004).
The race began with the Canadian athletes setting the early pace before Leonard Bett moved to the front, with Koech quickly joining him at the head of the field.
Serem, meanwhile, remained patient in sixth place during the opening stages.
With four laps to go, Koech took charge and began stretching the field, looking relaxed and in control. Serem gradually worked his way into third as the Kenyan trio established themselves in the leading positions.
By the time the race entered the final two laps, Koech, Bett and Serem occupied the top three spots and continued to pull away from the rest of the field. Bett briefly edged ahead, but Koech responded immediately to reclaim the lead.
The decisive move came on the final lap when Serem surged to the front for the first time in the race.
What followed was a thrilling sprint between the two front-runners, but Serem found another gear to hold off Koech and secure the gold medal, with Bett completing a memorable Kenyan 1-2-3 finish.
In the men’s 3x3 basketball competition, Kenya maintained their winning momentum with a commanding 22-9 victory over Fiji.
Sylvia Kamau’s charges built on their earlier 22-12 triumph over Jamaica to register back-to-back wins in Glasgow.
Kenya’s wheelchair basketball team also produced a dominant display, whitewashing England 21-0.
In boxing, Boniface Maina bowed out after suffering a unanimous 3-0 defeat to Scotland’s Sonny Kerr.
Elsewhere, Kenya’s Dominic Ongidi recorded a best throw of 58.51m in the men’s hammer throw competition.