NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 22 – Commonwealth Games champion Abraham Kibiwott defied a massive thud at the backstraight in the final lap to clinch bronze, as Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali defended his steeplechase crown at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Just as it was in Eugene last year, El Bakkali and Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma finished first and second for gold and silver, while it was a Kenyan who settled for bronze.
Kibiwott timed 8:11.98 at third, with El Bakkali defending his crown in 8:03.53. Ethiopia’s Girma clocked 8:05.44 for silver.
Meanwhile, Leonard Bett’s attempt to pip compatriot Kibiwott for bronze was unsuccessful as she settled for fourth (8:12.26) while Simon Koech finished seventh (8:14.37).
Up until two laps to go, El Bakkali and Girma were lurking at the back of Bett who had chosen to be the early pacemaker, like lionesses waiting for the opportune time to pounce for prey.
Bett had decided to dictate pace early, but neither of the two heavyweights; the world record holder and the Olympic and reigning world champion, were falling for it.
Momentarily, Bett switched places with Kibiwott with three laps to go, but the two leading lights would take charge with two laps to go.
At the bell, Girma set his eyes on picking up the tempo, and all this time, El Bakkali waited patiently. As they strode into the backstraight, the Moroccan, with an electric finishing kick, struck.
While they toiled for the gold and El Bakkali moving past Girma, behind them, Kibiwott had taken a huge hit in the barrier and tumbled knee first, but managed to pick himself and wade off the challenge from his compatriot Bett.
