Nairobi — Commonwealth Video games champion Abraham Kibiwott says their primary mission is to reclaim the Olympics title for the lads’s 3000m steeplechase in Wednesday’s closing on the Stade de France.
Kibiwott says the trio of Commonwealth Video games bronze medalist Amos Serem, Simon Koech and himself are unfazed by the calibre of their opponents within the closing.
“The Moroccans and Ethiopians are evidently robust runners however we additionally imagine in our talents as Kenyans. We’ll discuss with our coaches on how we will probably be working within the closing. However, I want to guarantee Kenyans that each one will probably be nicely…they need to rally behind us and we are going to make them pleased,” Kibiwott stated.
The three cruised into the ultimate albeit they underwent combined fortunes of their respective qualification rounds on Monday.
Kibiwott cruised to the ultimate by way of a third-place end in Warmth 2, the place he clocked 8:12.02 whereas Koech completed third within the subsequent warmth after clocking 8:24.95.
Serem, however, raised a hue and cry after initially lacking out as a result of his sixth place end in Warmth 1 of the water-and-hurdles race, clocking 8:18.41.
Nonetheless, video opinions confirmed the 2021 World Below 20 champion had been shoved within the again whereas approaching the water barrier within the closing lap.
Serem was compelled to evade the barrier earlier than coming again to leap over it, which finally slowed down his momentum and left him enjoying catch-up with the main pack.
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Reminiscing on the flip of occasions, Kibiwott notes that Serem’s tribulations is lesson sufficient for all them to be extra cautious within the closing.
“Now that each one of us are within the closing, we have to be extra cautious. We do not need any of us to be boxed contained in the interior lane the place there may be a variety of shoving. Even in my warmth, there was a variety of pushing so it requires us to be targeted after we get into the ultimate,” the world 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist noticed.
Kenya will probably be seeking to reclaim a title that has been an emblem of its standing as an athletics powerhouse.
To do this, the trio should upstage defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali who shattered Kenya’s dominance of the steeplechase on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Since then, the Moroccan has continued so as to add insult to harm by clinching his first world title in 2022 in Oregon, earlier than efficiently defending in Budapest, final yr.
As they step onto the tartan at Stade de France, Kibiwott reveals they benefited from priceless recommendation from two-time Olympics champion Ezekiel Kemboi.
“He was with us in our coaching camp again dwelling and after we had been on the airport, he was there to see us off. He inspired us and gave us recommendations on methods to deliver dwelling the gold medal,” the 2016 African champion revealed.