Kibiwott backs Kenya's 'ripe talent' to reclaim steeplachase dominance

The reigning Commonwealth Games champion believes that himself alongside World U20 steeplechase champion Edmund Serem, and his elder brother Amos Serem, the 2021 World U20 champion, along with Simon Koech, carry Kenya’s hopes of reclaiming the race’s stranglehold.

Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali ended Kenya’s dominance in Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and since then he has refused to relinquish his grip on the water and barrier event, winning World Championship and Paris Olympics titles among other championships.

But after Amos Serem got one up on EL Bakkali to win the Diamond League Trophy in 8 mins 06.90 seconds in Brussels last September, ending his three-year unbeaten streak since his 2021 triumph in Tokyo, Kibiwott wants Kenyans to build on that and dare to dream.

Serem’s triumph not only secured him the maiden Diamond League title but also marked a significant moment in his career, as the 22-year-old defeated the formidable El Bakkali, for the first time in over three years.

“I’m sure this year will be better for us than last year. I’ve just started my long-distance and speed work. I hope to use the 2025 Diamond League season, beginning in Xiamen, China, in April, to measure myself ahead of the World Championships.”

The Kenyans versus the Moroccan rivalry has enthralled athletics in the recent years, and one of the world most enduring battles is expected to be rekindled in the Japanese capital in September.

With a wealth of experience, Kibiwott plans to reduce his participation in Diamond League events to avoid early burnout and peak at the right time in readiness for the World Championships.

“My experience will guide the team. The World Championships are not about speed and time but tactical execution. We need to mentor the younger athletes to help Kenya regain its grip on the 3000m steeplechase. We will do it as a team because we all know the danger posed by El Bakkali,” he added.

Legendary steeplechaser Ezekiel “Baba Lao” Kemboi is among the country’s most decorated athletes in the race, winning four world titles (2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015) and two Olympic golds (2004 and 2012).