Ethiopia leads in 3000m Men's Steeplechase heats round, Kenya closes 3

Budapest

Sartuday, 19 August 23

Robert Mutasi 

In the 19th edition of the Budapest Athletics World Championships 2023, Ethiopia took the lead in the men's 3000m steeplechase competition, while Kenya secured the top three spots in the first heat on Saturday in Hungary.

Ethiopian athlete Getnet Wale set the pace in the first heat of the steeplechase, clocking in at 8:19.99, thereby securing Ethiopia's place in the final.

Canada followed closely, securing the second position in the first heat, with Jean-Simon Desgagnes finishing at 8:20.04.

Simon Kiprop Koech of Kenya, who is also a World Under 20 Championships Bronze medalist, finished third in the heat, recording a time of 8:20.29, just behind Spain's Daniel Arce who clocked 8:20.46.

In the second heat, the USA dominated the competition, followed by Morocco, with Kenya and Tunisia securing the fourth and third positions respectively. 

American Kenneth Rooks and Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali both clocked 8:23.66, while Amin Jhinaoui of Tunisia finished the heat at 8:24.20. 

Kenya's Abraham Kibiwot rounded out the top four with a time of 8:24.31, narrowly behind Uganda's Leonard Chemutai.

In the third heat, Ethiopia regained the top spot, followed by New Zealand, with Kenya and Japan securing the third and fourth positions respectively. 

Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma finished with a time of 8:15.89, closely followed by George Beamish of New Zealand who clocked 8:16.36. 

Kenya's Leonard Kipkemboi Bett came in third with a time of 8:16.74, ahead of Japan's Ryuji Miura who finished at 8:18.73.

The top five finishers in each heat have qualified for the final. 

Abraham Kibiwot, the Commonwealth Games Winner, is poised to make a strong showing in the final. The success of his compatriots, Kipkemboi and Simon Kiprop, has inspired him, and he is expected to be a strong contender in the competition. 

Kibiwot's track record speaks for itself, with two top-eight finishes at the World Championships, a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, a Commonwealth Games win, and a bronze medal at the African Championships.

The final of the men's 3000m steeplechase at the Budapest Athletics World Championships 2023 will take place on Tuesday, August 22, where the winner will be decided.