Team Kenya captain Edmund Serem was flawless as he reclaimed the men’s 3000m steeplechase title at the World Under-20 Championships in Peru, Lima.
Serem led by example as a team captain and delivered the gold for Kenya as he promised. The race saw Matthew Kosgei claim the silver in the hotly contested race.
With his win, the youngster has reclaimed the title last won at the 2021 World Under-20 Championships by his brother Amos Serem. The youngster clocked a stunning 8:15.28 for gold with compatriot Kosgei. Ethiopia’s Hailu Ayalew settled for bronze with a personal best of 8:24.08.
Serem has enjoyed gaining a lot of experience running with senior athletes at the African Games where he finished fifth and the Africa Athletics Championships where he claimed a silver medal. Kosgei finished third at the Africa Athletics Championships.
Serem lauded his coaches Patrick Sang, Robert Ngisirei, Bernard Rono, and Peter Sang among others for their guidance and tutelage that enabled him to emerge champion.
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“As a team leader, I had to show the way despite the event coming on the last day. The team did well and as the games come to an end, we have a reason to work hard and focus on the 2028 Olympic Games,” Serem said.
“We can now be named as a steeplechase family and I’m so happy because the results came due to pure hard work and being focused on the prize. My father has been motivating me so much to follow in the footsteps of my brother Amos who won gold in the 2021 games,” he added.
On his part, Kosgei attributed the win to the support he gets from both his father and mother who were athletes in their hey days.
“I am so happy to have bagged silver due to the stiff competition that was witnessed in the race. I really appreciate my friend Serem for encouraging me to hang on and I have to continue training for the next assignments because I have finished the junior event. I know my father is a happy man because he asked me to work hard and I have delivered,” said Kosgei.
