OREGON22: Moment of truth for Conseslus Kipruto in steeplechase title defence

His form has been on a steady rise after a two-year track absence characterized by injury struggles, unfinished races and a court battle but Conseslus Kipruto is back. The only question is, can he muster the speed and tactics to deliver gold for Kenya in the 3000m steeplechase at the World championships in Oregon.

Kipruto lines up for the final on Tuesday morning from 5.20 am (the afternoon session of day four) where he will be joined by 2018 World Under-20 Championships silver medalist Leonard Bett and 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medalist Abraham Kibiwott.

Historically, this is a title the Kenyans have defended as if their lives depend on it. Since 1991, and the first of Moses Kiptanui’s three world titles, Kenya has won 13 of the 15 men’s steeplechase gold medals, the two exceptions being 2003 and 2005, when Saif Saaeed Shaheen (Stephen Cherono), a Kenyan-born athlete running for Qatar claimed gold.

However, recent form indicates that the race could easily come down to a battle between Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma and Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali if the Kenyans do not step up.

In 2019, Kipruto went to with a season’s best of just 8:13.75 as he returned from a stress fracture in his ankle, but in the final he clocked 8:01.35 to deny Girma gold in a photo finish.

OREGON22: Chepngetich out to defend world marathon title

This year he has a best of 8:08.76, which placed him fourth in Rome last month, nine seconds behind Girma, before he coasted to third place at the Kenyan trials, choosing not to race for the win.

Kibiwott is the quickest of the Kenyan trio this year, clocking 8:06.73 to finish second in Rome. Girma has, however, shown he can run under eight minutes almost at his leisure, dipping under that barrier three times in a 10-day spell earlier in the season.

OREGON22: Cheruiyot, Kipsang to battle for 1500m title