L. MathekaWU20: Kenya’s hunt for men’s steeplechase gold begins
Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 03.08.22. | 14:50
Kenya has for long proven tough to stop in the chase for steeplechase medals and the youngsters will hope to reassure Kenyans after a recent dip.
Amos Serem’s gold at the World Under-20 Athletics Championships in Nairobi remains one of the standout performances of the championship as he did not only put up a show at the finish line but he also reclaimed the gold medal Kenya had lost to Ethiopia in 2018.
In his absence, having already made the switch to the senior level, Kenya’s hunt for steeplechase medals at the ongoing championship in Cali will be led by Emmanuel Wafula, who has run 8:42.25 this season, and Haron Kibet, who has run 8:43.82.
The duo will be in action on Wednesday 5:35 pm (EAT) Wafula going up first in heat two while Kibet is expected to line up in heat three. The two hope to follow in the footsteps of Serem and his predecessors who
Morocco’s Salaheddine Ben Yazide who tops the world U20 lists with the 8:19.63 he ran at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Rabat back in June headlines heat one. Yazide gained some top-level experience at the World Athletics Championships earlier this month, finishing 13th in the heats.
Wafula goes up against the second favourite in the race Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu who has a 8:19.82 PB he ran in Ostrava back in May and he backed that up with a fifth-place finish at the African Championships last month. The Ethiopian be joined by compatriot Samuel Duguna, who has a best of 8:27.40 this season and goes in heat three.
Uganda has a pair of strong entrants in Elphas Toroitich and Leonard Chemutai, who have run 8:37.3 and 8:40.6 respectively this year, while the US challenge is led by Bryce Lentz who has run 8:39.73.
In the same distance but without the barriers, men’s 3000m, Kenya has Felix Kiptarus and Edwin Kimosong. The duo is in action at 5pm (EAT) with the former in heat one while Kimosong a sub-8 runner who has run 7:50.71, goes in the second heat.
The Kenyans face a strong challenge from Ethiopia’s Diriba Girma who looks to retain the title for his nation following Tadese Worku’s victory in Nairobi last year. The 19-year-old is the quickest in the field this year via the 7:38.79 he ran indoors, and he will be joined in Cali by Melkeneh Azize, who ran 7:42.95 indoors.
Meanwhile, five Kenya sprinters are in action as the duo of Damaris Mutunga and World Under-20 400m bronze medalist Sylvia Chelangat are looking to make the final when they lineup in the women’s semis set for Thursday 1am (EAT).
In the men’s 400m/h Peter Kithome and Alocious Kipngetich line up in heat one and six respectively with a semis berth in mind in the races set for Wednesday from 18:35 pm (EAT). Elikanah Kiprotich who was part of Kenya’s 4x400m team that won bronze last year in Nairobi goes up in the individual semis set for Thursday 1:25am (EAT).
