{{Kenyan Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi cemented his status at the greatest steeplechaser of his generation by emulating his countryman Moses Kiptanui and securing a hat-trick of World titles with yet another supreme competitive performance.}}
For much of 2013 he had to play second fiddle to his countryman, the 18-year-old rising star Conseslus Kipruto.
Yet when it mattered most, once again, it was the veteran Kemboi who delivered the goods to triumph in this battle between young and old. Once more Kemboi was king.
It was a ruthless display by the 31-year-old, who secured not only his third straight gold but also plundered a remarkable sixth successive steeplechase World medal after winning silvers in the 2003, 2005 and 2007 editions.
Kipruto, who had boasted a two out of two winning record against his fabled countryman this season prior to today, had to concede defeat with the silver medal today, but surely his day will come.
Back in bronze for a second successive World Championships was French athlete Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad who enjoyed another consistent championship performance.
When the gun went for the start of the race many eyes in the stadium were fixed on an absorbing men’s High Jump competition rather than the 15 finalists in the steeplechase. The main protagonists all raced to the front Kenyans with Kipruto making a move to the head of the field.
With a familiar forward-leaning style the teenager looks a little awkward when running and he passed the 1km mark in 2:45.96 from his countryman Paul Kipsiele Koech, the third fastest man in history, who so rarely has been given the chance to show his ability on the championship stage.
The fourth Kenyan Abel Mutai, the Olympic bronze medallist was also prominent as was Uganda’s Jacob Araptany and Evan Jager of the USA.
{CapitalFM}
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