Kipruto leads Kenyan legion into steeplechase final
Conseslus Kipruto of Team Kenya, Mehdi Belhadj of Team France, Hillary Bor of Team United States and Lamecha Girma of Team Ethiopia compete in the Men’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase heats on day one of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 15, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon.
What you need to know:
- Morocco's Olympic champion Sofiane El Bakkali won the first heat in 8:16.65, with Bett second in 8:16.94 as Kibiwot (8:17.04) completed the top three automatic qualifiers.
Defending 3,000metres champion Conseslus Kipruto led his comrades Leonard Bett and Abraham Kibiwot into the final of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon early Saturday morning.
Only Olympic bronze medallist Benjamin Kigen failed to make the final after stumbling in the last water jump to finish seventh in Heat 3. It remains to be seen whether Team Kenya officials will lodge a complaint as it appeared as if he was tripped inside the water.
Kipruto finished second in Heat 2 after timing 8:20.12 behind his Ethiopian rival Lamecha Girma (8:19.64) while Kenyan-born American Hillary Bor (8:20.18) placed third to claim the third automatic qualifying slot for the final.
Morocco's Olympic champion Sofiane El Bakkali won the first heat in 8:16.65, with Bett second in 8:16.94 as Kibiwot (8:17.04) completed the top three automatic qualifiers.
From left: Kenya's Leonard Kipkemoi Bett, Kenya's Abraham Kibiwot, Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali and Ethiopia's Getnet Wale compete in the men's 3000m steeplechase heats during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 15, 2022.
Kigen, who looked comfortable in second place heading into the water jump, stumbled before he was tripped and lost momentum to finish seventh in 8:22.52.
Ethiopia's Hailemariyam Amare (8:18.34) won Heat 3 with American Evan Jager (8:18.44) and India's Avinash Mukund Sable (8:18.75) taking the next two automatic qualifying slots.
