Koech, Serem lead Kenya’s medal hunt in steeplechase

From left- Kenya team winners of in 4x400m relay men Joshua Ndombi, Dennis Kimeu, Elkana Chemelil and Peter Kithome during World Athletics U20 Championships at the Moi International Sports Complex. Aug 21, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

After putting up strong wins in the semifinals, Kenyan duo of Simon Koech and Amos Serem now hope to secure a podium finish in the men’s 3000m steeplechase finals as curtains fall on the World U20 Athletics Championships at Kasarani Stadium today.

Bomet-based Koech, comfortably eased to victory in the first heat of his semifinals clocking 8:52.43 ahead of Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu to show a clear intention of recapturing the event’s title Kenya lost to Ethiopian in 2018.