NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 20 – Amos Serem and Simon Koech stormed to Sunday’s 3,000m steeplechase final at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships after blazing their heats at Kasarani on Friday afternoon.
Serem wowed the crowd with his assured run, staying behind Ethiopian Tadese Takele before teasing him to the finish line after passing him off at the home straight. He clocked 8:29.98 ahead of the Ethiopian.
The Kenyan had trailed the Ethiopian for most of the race. Tadese, Eritrean Abel Yemane and Ugandan Leonard Chemutai had formed the leading pack alongside Serem after just two laps of the race.
Amos Serem celebrates after winning his steeplechase heat at the World U20 Championships. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
Tadese was in the lead all through while Yemane and CHemutai were sandwiched right behind.
At the bell, it was Tadese and Serem who made the move and the Kenyan, like a hunting lioness stuck to the Ethiopian’s shoulder.
At the last water hurdle, Serem leaped a massive step to go toe to toe with Tadese. So confident was the Kenyan that he already started celebrating and winding up the crowd.
At the last hurdle, the Kenyan sprung upfront to take the lead and go on all the way to the finish line.
Simon Koech all smiles after winning his steeplechase heat at the World Under-20 Championships. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
In the opening heat, Koech had run a comfortable race from start to finish. It was also a contention of Kenyan, Eritrean and Ugandan athletes. Koech led a chasing pack of Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu, Ugandan Elphas Toroitich and Eritrea’s Samuel Mehbratu who competed in the 3,000m race.
The Kenyan was at ease and in command and easily won the race in 8:52.43 ahead of Firewu while Mebrahtu was third and Toroitich fourth.
