For a while, Kenya had made the 3000m steeplechase a race of their own both in the men and women categories. It was almost a given that a Kenyan would win in this category at any given event.
However, the patterns seem to have changed and success in this category continues to elude Kenya in the recent events.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Soufiane El Bakkali from Morocco and Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai won in the men’s and women’s category respectively.
At World Championships, Bakkali has dominated the last two editions (2022 and 2023) while the women’s category has been shared by Norah Jeruto (Kazakhstan) and Winfred Mutile Yavi (Bahrain).
On Monday, the drought for gold in the 3000m steeplechase for Kenya was prolonged at the ongoing African Games in Accra, Ghana when Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu Debisa clinched the coveted prize.
It should be noted that Kenya’s Benjamin Kigen won gold in this category at the previous edition of the African Games in Rabat, Morocco.
Today at the University of Ghana Stadium, Kenya had a strong field comprised of Amos Serem, Simon Kiprop Koech and youngster Edmund Serem.
The trio set the pace for the opening 1000m metres but with the Ethiopians closely trailing them.
It was until the final 400m that Firewu showed intent and hit the front to eventually stave off the Kenya duo of Amos Serem and Simon Kiprop Koech
The 20-year-old clocked 8:24.30 in first place while Serem overtook his fellow countryman Koech in the last 100m to claim silver, timing 8:25.77.
Koech completed the podium slots (bronze) with a time of 8:26.19.
Men’s Steeplechase Final standings
1- Samuel Firewu Debisa (Ethiopia) – 8:23.30
2- Amos Serem (Kenya) – 8:25.77
3- Simon Kiprop Koech (Kenya) – 8:26.19
4- Tufa Abrham Sime (Ethiopia) – 8:27.30
5- Jaressa Milkesa Fikadi (Ethiopia) – 8:27.55
6- Edmund Serem (Kenya) – 8:31.21
7- Jridi Mohamed Ibrahim (Tunisia) – 8:45.78
8- Ben Yazide Salah Eddine (Morocco) – 8:51.38
9- Mohamed Salem Attia Allah Salem (Egypt)- 8:53.55
10- Tindouft Mohamed (Morocco) – Did not finish
