Serem leads Kenya to steeplechase glory as curtains fall on 2024 World U20 Championship
1st September 2024
Kenya finished fifth overall with seven medals, including three Golds.
- Kenya won two medals on the final day of the World Athletics U20 Championships staged in Lima, Peru.
- Edmund Serem delivered Gold in the 3000m steeplechase event.
- The Kenyan women did not win any medal on the final day.
Kenyan youngsters were in the class of their own in the
3000m steeplechase race as curtains came down in the 2024 World U20
Championships in Lima, Peru on Sunday morning.
Edmund Serem and Matthew Kosgei, backed by many athletics fans to bring back Kenya's lost glory in the event, produced a dominant display to win gold and silver medals respectively.
Serem, who is the younger brother to 2024 Paris Olympic Games representative Amos Serem, easily won the race in an U20 lead time of 8:15.28.
His compatriot and friend Kosgei clocked a lifetime best time of 8:17.46 to finish ahead of Ethiopia’s Hailu Ayalew, with the latter also enhancing his personal best to 8:24.08.
Play here and stand a chance of winning the over 379 Million SportPesa Mega Jackpot
However, the situation was completely different in the 1500m final events as Kenya’s representatives registered decimal performances.
Mary Nyaboke (4:22.60) and Miriam Kibet (4:26.80) finished 10th and 14th respectively in the women’s category which was won by Ethiopia’s Saron Berhe in a time of 4:16.64.
The Ethiopians also had the last laugh in the men’s category as Abdisa Fayisa delivered the coveted Gold medal to his country.
The 19-year-old finished the race in 3:40.51 and in the process ended up in history books as the first ever Ethiopian to triumph in the discipline since the inception of the competition.
ALSO READ: Why Michael Olunga could miss Harambee Stars’ opening 2025 AFCON qualifiers
Kenya’s sole representative in the race Josphat Kipkirui narrowly missed a podium place position after finishing fourth behind Australia’s Cameron Myers (3:40.60) and Spain’s Alex Pintado (3:41.03).
The two medals from Serem and Kosgei ensured Kenya finished fifth overall in the standings with 7 medals (3 Golds, 3 Silvers and 1 Bronze) behind the United States, Ethiopia, China, and Jamaica.
Stephanie Eagle, a senior manager at the World Athletics, described the event as one of the most crucial for nurturing of talents.
“The World Athletics U20 Championships is a key development opportunity for our young athletes. Having athletes together for the championships provides a perfect opportunity to support and empower the emerging stars of our sport, both on and off the field.
This programme is designed to provide participants with key information to help them prepare for their future, giving them access to expert advice from both World Athletics staff and representatives from the Athletes’ Commission,” she was quoted by the organizers.
ALSO READ: Kenyatta University Graduate Strikes Gold:Wins Ksh 10 Million in SportPesa’s Goal Rush Game!