NAIROBI, Kenya, July 11 – Two-time Olympics and World 3000m steeple chase champion Ezekiel Kemboi will be eyeing his fourth global title on the bounce as he prepares for his Commonwealth Games swansong in Glasgow.
Arguably the best steeplechaser of all time, the Club Games title left his grip in Delhi four years ago as compatriot Richard Mateelong prevailed.
The 32-year-old who has competed in two IAAF Diamond Leagues this season in Doha where he won and Rome where he dropped out, announced this will be his last Commonwealth Games.
Kemboi who will captain 191 athletes in Glasgow will be seeking to reclaim the title he last won in 2006 Melbourne with titleholder, Mateelong out of the competition.
“This will be my fourth Commonwealth Games and third as the overall captain, each time I’m in the team we have always emerged winners so we should keep the fire burning.
“This will be my last participation in the event so I’m urging upcoming athletes who are running in the steeple to continue with the winning trend once I hand over to them since we picked well from our mentors like Ben Jipchoo,” Kemboi declared.
The three-time World Champion is confident the team is capable on improving the 12 gold, 11 silver and nine bronze the class of 2010 collected in Delhi, India.
“The team is well prepared and this is the first time we have assembled a strong team not only in athletics but in all disciplines, Kenyans should expect good results and for me I’m going for gold as always and nothing less since I want to finish on a high,” he added.
The former DJ turned champion runner is out to perform a final jig after proving to be the ultimate gold minting machine.
