KEMBOI PREPARES FOR RIO TRIALS: Steeplechase bigwigs to light up Team Kenya selection

Kemboi of Kenia reacts as he crosses the finish line in the men's 3.000m steeplechase event during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing

It will be a do-or-die moment when world beating stars battle for Olympics team spots in 3,000m steeplechase during national trials next week.

There will be no love lost when two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi, 2008 Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto and former Olympic bronze medallist Paul Kipsiele Koech lead the chase for slots against youngsters that include two-time world silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium.

But Kemboi’s wins at the IAAF World Athletics Championships, Olympic Games and brilliant shows at the Commonwealth Games has seen him enter the pantheon of 3,000m steeplechase superstars.

With two Olympic titles, four world crowns to his name and three world silver medals, it makes Kemboi the world’s steeplechaser of all time.

Kemboi and Kipruto head to the national trials brandishing their seniority status, as each longs to return to the Olympic Games for the fourth time.

Kemboi won gold in 2004 (Athens), finished ninth in Beijing (2008) and won gold in London, while Kipruto has silver (2004), gold in Beijing and was tripped at the final lap in London.

And Kemboi, Kenya’s steeplechase maestro always appreciates his unrivalled consistency.

“When I was at the IOC Camp in Eldoret in 2002, you were still in school,” he said during World Championships in Moscow in 2013.

When he won silver medal in 3,000m steeplechase at the world championships in 2003 in Paris, Conseslus Kipruto, who won silver behind him in Moscow (2013) and Beijing (2015), was barely nine years old.

Kemboi has not impressed this season in the Diamond League meetings.

He is the second Kenyan after Kipchoge Keino to win Olympic gold medals twice and also the only Kenyan to win world championships four times.

Throw in Olympic bronze medallist Abel Mutai and US-based Haroun Lang’at and the lighthearted will tremble.

They have a mountain to climb in Rio, plotting to squeeze out Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of France, who often ruins Kenya’s podium sweep bid.

There is also the nightmare of fast-rising American, Evan Jager, who stunned the field at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne last year and was fifth in Beijing Worlds.

The 35-year-old Kemboi needs to be at his best to counter Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jairus Birech and Kipruto, who is in sublime form this season, having won Doha, Rabat, Rome and Birmingham Diamond League meetings.

Athletics Kenya has entered 28 athletes that include newcomers Abraham Kibiwott and Alex Kibet.