Why Kenyan steeplechasers face huge barriers in Tokyo contest

Kenya's Conseslus Kipruto (L) and Benjamin Kigen compete in the Men's 3000m steeplechase race heats at the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships at the Khalifa International stadium in Doha on October 1, 2019. [Photo by Jewel Samad AFP)

The writing is on the wall. From today, Kenya's men and women's 3000m steeplechase team face an uphill task at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

For the men's team, it remains a riddle as to whether they will stretch Kenya's dominance in the race that started in 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City where Amos Biwott wore the crown and sie then it is a record 11 titles so far for Kenya.