Morocco did the unthinkable and pipped the East African nation of its most favorite race title at last year’s meeting in Oregon.
2021 World under-20 3000m SC champion Amos Serem is bullish about Kenya reclaiming the steeplechase word title come this years World Championships in Budapest on August 19-27.
Kenya lost the title to Morocco at last year’s World Championships in Oregon when Soufiane El Bakali obliterated the strong field to bag gold in 8:25.13. His win ended Kenya's reign in the event at the World Championships, marking the first time since 2005 that a Kenyan did not finish top of the podium.
The 2019 World champion Conseslus Kipruto fizzled out to finish third in 8:27.92 at the event as Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma placed second in 8:26.01. Other Kenyans in that race were Abraham Kibiwot and Leonard Bett who placed fifth and 15th in respective times of 8:28.95 and 8:36.74.
“We shall reclaim that title,” Serem confidently said.
The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist said going into the World Championships, he would love to display a good race and be the one to return Kenya’s glory.
“In case I win gold, I will feel so great because I will be the world champion,” he said.
Serem participated in the second Athletics Kenya meet where he placed second in 8:29.73. He noted that race was used to gauge the areas he needed to work on going forward.
“I went there to know the areas that need to be worked on and I noticed my finishing speed is not sufficient...that's what I have to work on. I have done enough training on my endurance,” he said.
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