This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
At the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto won the men's 3000m steeplechase gold medal in a dramatic photo finish with Ethiopian Lamecha Girma on October 5, 2019.
The margin of victory was a mere 0.01 seconds, the closest ever margin in a global title in the event.
Despite securing Kenya's 23rd straight victory in the event, Kipruto warned that the streak could soon be coming to an end.
He attributed the stiff competition to the presence of strong competitors, saying, "Steeplechase is no longer a Kenyan affair; many would have wanted us to sweep the medal but we have very strong competitors, for this race I thought it’s important to win," in an interview with Citizen Digital.
Kenya's dominance in the event has been under threat, and Kipruto emphasized the need for investment in young athletes and facilities to maintain the country's supremacy.
Other Kenyan athletes, including Abraham Kibiwot and Leonard Kipkemoi Bett, also competed in the event, with Kibiwot finishing seventh and Bett ninth.
