Kenya’s dominance of the steeplechase started way back at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games when Amos Biwott opened the floodgates.
Kipchoge Keino (Munich, 1972), Julius Korir (Los Angeles, 1984), Julius Kariuki (Seoul, 1988), Matthew Birir (Barcelona, 1992), Joseph Keter (Atlanta, 1996), Reuben Kosgei (Sydney, 2000), Ezekiel Kemboi (Athens, 2004), Brimin Kipruto (Beijing, 2008), Ezekiel Kemboi (London, 2012) and Conseslus Kipruto (Rio de Janeiro, 2016) maintained the dominance before Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali broke the streak in Tokyo three years ago.
In Paris
Getnet Wale, world record holder Lamecha Girma and Samuel Firehu will be out to attempt a total Ethiopian domination of the men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase in tonight’s Olympic final, while the trio of Amos Serem, Simon Koech and Abraham Kibiwott are determined to reclaim Kenya’s stranglehold at the Stade de France.
