This archive report was first published on 27 August 2019.
Kenya's Benjamin Kigen has made history by winning the country's first gold medal at the African Games, claiming the men's 3,000m steeplechase title on August 27, 2019 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
World champion Conseslus Kipruto pulled out of the race with two laps to go, while fellow Kenyan Joash Kiplimo failed to finish after falling in the second lap.
Initially, Ethiopia's Takele Malese and Bayabl pushed for the lead, followed closely by Kipruto and ElBakkali. However, Kipruto's withdrawal left Kigen as the sole Kenyan competitor, alongside Bayabl and ElBakkali.
In the final lap, Kigen and Bayabl battled for the top spot, with the Moroccan athlete slowly dropping off. Kigen ultimately emerged victorious, crossing the finish line first.
'I am very happy to win because I did not expect things to turn out this way. It is just unbelievable,' said a delighted Kigen after his conquest.
According to Kigen, he had discussed strategy with his teammates, including Kipruto and Kiplimo, prior to the race, with the goal of working together to maintain Kenya's dominance in the distance event.
Conseslus Kipruto, who is still on the recovery path, revealed in a post-race conversation that he had to pull out as a precautionary measure to avoid any further complications that may hinder his preparations for the upcoming World Championship in Doha, Qatar in September.
