World Championships Top 3 in 3000m steeplechase on show in Brussels

Conseslus Kipruto won the 3000m steeplechase at the WC in london. The 22 year old Kenyan was still uncertain to compete due to an ankle injury, but he did win in 8’14”12. Moroccon Soufiane El Bakkali came in second in 8’14”49. Evan Jager from the USA who holds the World Leading performance with 8’01”29 had to settle for bronze in 8’15”53. The top 3 of this strong event will be on show in Brussels at the AG Memorial Van Damme.

Olympic Champion Kipruto wins his first World title after finishing second in 2013 and in 2015. It dates back from 2005 that the World Championships 3000m Steeplechase wasn’t won by a Kenyan athlete. In 2005 Saif Saaeed Shaheen won the World title, but he is a former Kenyan who then competed for Qatar.

The last non-Kenyan World Champion was crowned way back in 1987, when Italian Francesco Panetta won the gold, ahead of Hagen Melzer of Germany and Belgian William Van Dijck.

BRONZE FOR BETT

Kipyegon Bett has also confirmed to compete at the AG Memorial Van Damme. The Kenyan won the bronze medal in the 800m in 1’45”21.