This archive report was first published on 1 October 2019.
Kenya has a rich history in the 3,000m steeplechase event, having won 12 out of 16 world championships, including three clean sweeps in Edmonton 2001, Osaka 2007, and Beijing 2015.
On April 13, 2018, Conseslus Kipruto, the Olympic gold medallist, crossed the finish line in front of Kenya's Abraham Kibiwott during the athletics men's 3000m steeplechase final at the Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast.
However, Kipruto missed most of the 2019 season due to injury and only made his season track debut at the end of August, placing fifth at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Paris in 8:13.75.
Despite his injury-plagued season, Kipruto is confident that he can retain his title alongside his Kenyan teammates, including world under-20 silver medallist Leonard Bett, Diamond League specialist Benjamin Kigen, and Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwott.
"It has been a terrible season due to injury but I have healed and pain is gone. By the time I featured in Paris and Brussels, I had slight pain that’s why I didn’t do well. Now the strategy is to be at my best in order to retain my title. I’m confident together with my teammates, we will deliver victory," Kipruto said before the team departed to Doha last week.
The Kenyan quartet will face stiff competition from Soufiane El Bakkali, who won three IAAF Diamond League meetings this season, but was beaten to the African Games title by Kenyan Benjamin Kigen. Both El Bakkali and Kigen were then defeated by Ethiopian teenager Getnet Wale at the IAAF Diamond League final.
