Three Kenyan steeplechasers through to men's final at the World Championships

ATHLETICS Three Kenyan steeplechasers through to men's final at the World Championships

Abigael Wafula 15:00 - 19.08.2023

The Kenyan trio have all qualified for the men's 3000m Steeplechase final.

Trailblazing youngster Simon Koech is the latest kid on the block when it comes to Steeplechase and he has just proven to be in a class of his own by punching a ticket to the men’s 3000m SC final at the ongoing World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Koech, still 20, is rubbing shoulders with the senior athletes and doing pretty well for his tender age. During the just-concluded heats, he clocked 8:20.29 to seal the podium and qualify for a slot at the high table.

Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale and Canada’s Jean-Simon Desgagnes finished second and third to also directly qualify for the final.

In Heat Two, USA’s Kenneth Rooks proved unstoppable as he cruised to the finish line and clocked 8:23.66. The 23-year-old edged defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali. Tunisia’s Mohammed Amin sealed the podium at 8:24.20.

Commonwealth Games champion Abraham Kibiwott qualified by a whisker after finishing fourth in the heated race.

Leonard Bett was also the sole Kenyan representative in Heat Three, competing against world record holder Lamecha Girma.

Bett led for the better part of the race but was finally outclassed by Girma and Australia’s George Beamish who finished first and second respectively and the Kenyan sealed the podium.