NEW DELHI, October 11 – Richard Mateelong upstaged both the world champion and Olympic champion to lead a Kenyan 1-2-3 in the men's 3,000m steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games on Monday.Mateelong, the African champion, crossed the line in a pedestrian 8:16.40 but ahead of world champion Ezekiel Cheboi and Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto.
In a race with a top quality field, the Kenyans matched the clean sweep exploits of their women counterparts — Milcah Cheywa, Mercy Njoroge and Gladys Kipkemoi — who achieved the same feat here.
It was always on the cards with Kenya winning every Commonwealth men’s steeplechase final since 1990.
The surprise was world championship silver medallist Mateelong getting the better of his more illustrious countrymen, in particular Kipruto who is the fastest man in the world over the distance this year.
It was a huge victory with Mateelong taking the lead with one lap to go and never relinquishing it.
