TOKYO 2020: Kenya dispossesed of gold in 'traditional' steeplechase

Kenya's expected gold harvest at Tokyo Olympic Games got off to disappointing start after Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali ran a tactical race to win gold in 8:08.38.

"A new era in steeplechase has began!" the commentators exclaimed as the Moroccan looked strong as he led in the homestraight.

Kenya's dominance in the last four decades in Olympics 3000m steeplechase had finally been broken and it was the Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali who has stolen the show.

Africa Champion Benjamin Kigen saved face for Kenya as he raced for bronze in the homestraight despite getting to the water jump in fourth place clocking 8:11. 45 behind Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma who improved the country's standing in the distance with a first silver in 8:10.38. 

In a relatively slow race as the participants maintained a careful approach running on an extremely wet track following a downpour minutes before the final, it was Ethiopian Getnet Wale who first went to the front in the first hurdle and water jump. 

After two laps the Ethiopian dropped back for 19 -year old home runner Ryuji Muira who was soon overtaken by the leading pack of Bakkali the Ethiopian duo of Wale and Girma as well as Kenya's Kigen and reigning Commonwealth silver medalist Abraham Kibiwott. 

With two laps to go, the Ethiopian duo were in the lead with El Bakkali in the middle as the Kenyans trailed. It was Kibiwott who was first to drop from the leading pack as the El Bakkali picked to the pace after racing to the front. 

At the final river, Kigen clipped Wale and the Ethiopian stumbled giving the Kenyan a chance to put some distance between the two to race home for bronze. 

Kibiwott finished in tenth place in 8:19.41