Kemboi shows fine form as Kenyans draw lines on rivals Jager and Mekhissi

(LtoR) USA's Hillary Bor, Kenya's Ezekiel Kemboi and Canada's Matthew Hughes compete in the Men's 3000m Steeplechase Round 1 during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016. / AFP PHOTO /

Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi simply jogged to the finish line after he was certain of a slot in the finals.

In heat one yesterday, Kemboi toyed around with the opposition and even sprinted to the front when taking the last barrier, but when he realised he was within the top three spots, which would automatically qualify him to the finals, he decided to take it easy and allowed other two runners behind him to bask in the glory of beating an Olympic champion.

Former Kenyan Hillary Bor gladly accepted the gift from Kemboi and sprinted to win the race in 8:25.01 ahead of Moroccan Soufiane Elbakkali in 8:25.17. Kemboi clocked 8:25.51 as he almost literally walked across the line while his rivals battled for the top-two honours.

Brimin Kipruto, the 2008 Olympic champion, joined Kemboi in the finals after finishing second in heat two.

Evan Jager of the US, who beat Kenyans at the IAAF Diamond League in Lausanne last year, won the heat in 8:25.86 while Kipruto clocked 8:26.25.

Frenchman Mahiedinne Mekhissi, who has always spoiled the party for Kenya in most global events, returned third in 8:26.32 and the three Kenyans must be keen to stop the Frenchman from spoiling the party here in Rio.

In the third heat, two-time world silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto ensured he crossed the line first despite Ugandan Jacob Araptany trying to finish ahead of him.

Kipruto was simply oozing confidence, having displayed fine form in the Diamond League meetings this season as he posted the fastest time in the three heats of the day.

Kipruto, who has always been tipped to snatch the Olympic gold from Kemboi, clocked 8:21.40, having slowed a few metres to the finish line.

He pushed Ugandan Araptany into his season best of 8:21.53 in second place while Donald Carbral (8:21.96) of United States came third to join team mate Jager in the final set for tomorrow at 5:50 Kenyan time.

Meanwhile, world champion Nicholas Bett was yesterday disqualified from the 400m hurdles heats while his brother Aaron Koech ran his Personal Best time of 48.77 to win in heat three and book a place in the semi-finals.

Another Kenyan Boniface Mucheru (48:91), the African champion also booked a slot in the semi-finals after finishing second in heat two won by Abelmalik Lahlou of Morocco.

Koech and Mucheru will compete in the semi-finals tomorrow morning at 9:35pm.