World Champs U20: Serem, Kosgei win gold and silver for Kenya in steeplechase [VIDEO]

Kenya’s Edmund Serem led his compatriot Matthew Kosgei to win gold and silver in the 3,000m steeplechase on the last day of the World Athletics Under-20 Championships at the Estadio Atlético de la Videna in Lima, Peru.

Serem, who won silver and beat Kosgei to bronze at the Africa Athletics Championships, improved to gold, with Kosgei moving up to silver as the junior events concluded on Saturday evening.

Coming from a running family led by his brother Amos Serem, who won the water and barriers event in 2021 in Nairobi, Edmund maintained the family legacy by clocking 8:15.28 for gold.

His compatriot Kosgei, whose father, William Kosgei, was also a runner in the 1986 team, recorded a personal best of 8:17.46 for silver.

Ethiopia’s Hailu Ayalew settled for bronze with a personal best of 8:24.08.

As team captain, Serem expressed that winning gold in a championship is a dream come true.

He praised his coaches in both Kenya and Peru, including Patrick Sang, Robert Ngisirei, Bernard Rono, Peter Sang, among others.

“As a team leader, I had to show the way despite the event being on the last day. The team did well, and as the games come to an end, we have a reason to work hard and focus on the 2028 Olympic Games,” said Serem.

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Reflecting on his family’s achievements, he added, “We can now be named a steeplechase family, and I’m so happy because the results came due to pure hard work and focus. My father has been motivating me to follow in the footsteps of my brother Amos, who won gold in the 2021 games.”

Kosgei attributed his win to the support he receives from both his parents, who were athletes in their day.

“I am so happy to have won silver despite the stiff competition. I really appreciate my friend Serem for encouraging me to hang on. I have to continue training for the next events now that I have finished the junior event. I know my father is a happy man because he asked me to work hard, and I have delivered,” said Kosgei.

In the final event for Kenya (1500M), Josphat Kipkirui finished in 4th place with a time of 3:43.20, while Ethiopian Abdisa Fayisa won the race in 3:40.51, ahead of Australian Cameron Myers (3:40.60) and Spaniard Alex Pintado, who took bronze with a time of 3:41.03.

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Earlier in the day, Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka and Miriam Chemutai Kibet finished the 1,500m race in 10th and 14th place, respectively, with times of 4:22.60 and 4:26.80.

Ethiopia’s Saron Berhe won gold with a time of 4:14.64, while silver and bronze went to Canada’s Rachel Forsyth (4:17.94) and Germany’s Jolanda Kallabis (4:19.34), respectively.