TOKYO 2020: Will Kigen, Kibiwott defend 3000m steeplechase Olympic gold?

Reigning Commonwealth silver medalist Abraham Kibiwott and African champion Benjamin Kigen will be seeking to defend the Olympic 3000m steeplechase honors last won by Conseslus Kipruto when they race off in the final slated for Monday afternoon, 3:15PM EAT, at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.

The two advanced to the final after prevailing in the grueling semifinals and will be hoping to retain the gold medal won by compatriot and World Champion Conseslus Kipruto who did not qualify.

Kibiwott, a 2016 Africa Championships bronze medalist coasted to victory in the semis after clocking 8:12.25 while Kigen was third in his heat after timing 8:10.80. World Junior silver medalist Leonard Bett will miss the final after finishing fifth in the semis. The duo will also be seeking to deliver Kenya's first medal in the showpiece.

There has been sizeable invasion into the specialty earlier deemed as a preserve for Kenyans as clean sweeps have dried up thanks to the disruption brought American Evan Jager, Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhisi who have all spoiled the party for Kenyans previously.

Ahead of the final, the two Kenyans will have to worry of the threat posed by World silver medalist and Ethiopian Lamecha Girma who has in the past two years has not hidden his intentions of breaking Kenya’s dominance in the race.

Girma who beat Kigen in the heats nearly beat Kipruto in the global event held two years ago in Doha, Qatar after going neck to neck with the multiple world champion until the finishing line. The breathtaking finish saw him set a national record which stands at 8:01.36 which is also his personal best.

At the same time, the two athletes will have to deal with world bronze medalist Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco who won the third heat. The African Games bronze medalist will be making his second appearance in the Olympics after finishing fourth in the Rio Games. Bakkali will have the company of his compatriot Tindouft Mohamed who is ranked 16th globally.

With Jager out, Kenyan born Bernard Keter will fly the American flag in the race.