Kiptanui elated by Kemboi’s victory in the 3000m in the World Championship in Moscow

By PETER OCHIENG’AND JOSEPH NGURE

MOSCOW, RUSSIA:  Three times 3000m steeplechase world champion Moses Kiptanui is happy by third consecutive victory by his protege Ezekiel Kemboi in the World Championship in Moscow, which ended in Moscow on Sunday.

Kiptanui said Kemboi, who has been training under him, did the country proud by successively defending the steeplechase title and registering his third consecutive victory over the event.

But the former champion is not happy that the Kenyans did not manage a clean medal sweep despite lining up four top athletes in the final.

“As Kenyans were waiting anxiously for this event, they expected more than a gold and silver. What happened?” Kiptanui told FeverPitch.

The former star expressed disappointment with the steeplechase team, saying the officials had failed to inculcate the spirit of teamwork as was evidenced during and after the race.

“We could tell from the start that all was not well. Kemboi did not fly out with the team when the squad left for Moscow on August 6 for the championship. We need explanation,” added Kiptanui, the first runner to run the steeplechase under 8 minutes.

Bad blood

He said it was clear there was bad blood between the defending champion and upcoming Conseslus Kipruto after the incident that took place during the Diamond League in Shanghai, but nobody offered to reconcile the two during the training camp in Nairobi.

Kemboi, the winner of the barrier and water jump event during the last three World championships in Berlin, Daegu and Moscow, retained the title last Thursday, beating his strong challenger Kipruto, to second place.

“It was evident during the race that the Kenyans were their worst enemies. You could see from the body language that there was no team work. There was pointing of fingers especially between the first two rivals,” said Kiptanui from his Eldoret base.

He said the four Kenyans in Moscow were capable for finishing in the first four places if there was goodwill in the team and blamed the team management for failing to contain the situation.

He also blamed the technical team for the poor performance by the relay team that failed to qualify for the second round yet the country is full of youthful sprinters that are being neglected.