MOSCOW, (Reuters) – Kenyan Ezekiel Kemboi refused to buckle and allow teenage team mate Conseslus Kipruto to threaten his dominance of the 3,000 metres steeplechase by powering to a third consecutive world title yesterday.
The 31-year-old, sporting a mohawk hairstyle, clocked 8:06:01 with Kipruto, 18, chasing him home in 8:06.37. Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad repeated his bronze from Daegu to deny Kenya a podium sweep with Paul Kipsiele Koech placed fourth.
The four Kenyans in the final dictated the pace of the race from the gun to the bell. Benabbad looked threatening around the home turn but Kemboi simply went up a gear and burst away, allowing himself to slow up towards the line with gold secure.
Kenya are the dominant force in men’s steeplechasing with twice Olympic champion Kemboi laying strong claim to be the best yet to emerge from the east African nation, although Moses Kiptanui also won three successive world title between 1991-1995.
