Reuters
Rio de Janeiro, August 18: Kenya’s Conseslus Kipruto stormed to an Olympic record breaking victory in the men’s 3,000 meters steeplechase here Wednesday, ensuring the East African nation maintained their iron grip on an event it has monopolised since 1984.
The 21-year-old had long been touted as the heir to Kenya’s steeplechase crown and made good on those predictions with a blistering final-lap sprint that carried him to gold in an Olympic best time of eight minutes 3.28 seconds.
The African nation has now won every 3,000m steeplechase final the runners have competed in since 1968, having boycotted the 1976 and 1980 Olympics for political reasons.
Evan Jager ran a fantastic race to claim a rare medal in the event for the United States after overtaking 2004 and 2008 Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi in the final 50 metres to take silver in an impressive 8:04.28. Kemboi was later disqualified for having stepped out of the tracks and the bronze went to France’s Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad.
“Even before the race I knew I would win,” said Kipruto, who revealed he had suffered a calf injury days earlier.
