Ezekiel Kemboi won the world championships 3000m steeplechase for the 3rd time in a row. He beat the fast rising compatriot Conselus Kipruto into secnd place. Kipruto had beaten Kemboi twice the season and there was talk of Kemboi passing the baton on to the next generation.
However Kemboi is having none of that talk. With a lap to go, there were 5 runners in contention. Paul Koech, Kirputo, Kemboi, Evan Jaeger of the US and Bennabadd of France. The latter took the lead briefly with 250m to go. But that was Kemboi’s signal to take over the race. He took off like a bullet going from 5th place into the lead with 200m to go. No one had an answer for him. He once again underlined why he has been the best steeplechaser in the world since 2005.
The Greatest Steeplechaser ever.
Kemboi has now won the world championships 3 times, the Olympics twice and the Commonwealth games once. He has also won two silver medals in the Commonwealth games and 3 silver medals in the world championships. His winning record in Diamond League and Grand Prix races is unsurpassed. He has been amazingly consistent since he first appeared on the scene in 2002. His personal best at 7:55.76 ranks him as the 5th fastest ever in this event. Ahead of him time wise are Kenyan turned Qatari Saif Shaheen, Brimin Kipruto, Paul Koech and Bernard Barmasai, all Kenyans. However Kemboi’s winning record far surpasses all the others. In fact Paul Koech has rarely beaten Kemboi.
Bright Future
Brimin Kipruto, Paul Koech and Kemboi have dominated this event over the past decade. However there seemed to be no other young Kenyans emerging to defend Kenya’s honor in the future. Although there were Kenyan youngstars winning gold medals in Junior and youth competitions, all of them faded when they became seniors, That was until the emergence in 2013 of Conselus Kipruto who as was mentioned above, has beaten Kemboi twice this year. If he continues to work hard and stays injury free, he could join the pantheon of great steeplers.
