El-Bakkali ends Kenyan reign with steeplechase gold
Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali crosses the finish line to win the men's 3000m steeplechase final during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 18, 2022.
What you need to know:
- World champion Conselus Kipruto of Kenya won bronze.
Kenya’s 11 years reign in 3,000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships has ended.
Once again, it was Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali, who broke the hearts of Kenyans when he became the only other man apart from Kenyans to win both the Olympic and World Champion on Tuesday in Oregon.
Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali celebrates winning the men's 3000m steeplechase final during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 18, 2022.
Silver medallist Lamecha Girma of Team Ethiopia celebrates after competing in the Men's 3000m Steeplechase on day four of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 18, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon.
Gold medallist Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali (centre), silver medallist Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma (left) and bronze medallist Kenya's Conseslus Kipruto pose with their national flags after the men's 3000m steeplechase final during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 18, 2022.
El Bakkali, who claimed silver in 2017 London and bronze in 2019 Doha, went for the world title in Oregon after gold at Tokyo Olympics, when he won in eight minutes and 25.13 seconds.
Sebastian Martos of Team Spain, Getnet Wale of Team Ethiopia, Hillary Bor of Team United States, and Conseslus Kipruto of Team Kenya compete in the Men's 3000m Steeplechase on day four of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 18, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon.
Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma settled for silver once again after the Tokyo Olympics in 8:26.01 as the two-time defending champion Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya grabbed bronze in 8:27.92.
Athletes compete in the men's 3000m steeplechase final during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 18, 2022.
It’s El Bakkali, who ended Kenya’s 38 years dominance at the Olympics when he reigned supreme at Tokyo Summer Games last year.
It was a happy return to Eugene for El-Bakkali, who got his first taste of international competition at Hayward Field in 2014 when he competed in the World Under-20 Championships.
"That was my first international experience. I return eight years later as a champion," El-Bakkali said.
"The course was very tactical, slow," he added. "I positioned well in the last lap. I am very strong in the 400m and it worked out for me."
