by Larry Eder
The men’s steeplechase was a tactical affair. In the end, Ezekiel Kemboi was not about to let anything or anyone stand between him and defending his 2009 title. After three straight silver medals in World Champs (07,05,03), Kemboi is adept over the barriers, and with 7:58.85 pb, he can run from the front, back or in between. Kemboi likes the front, he does not like surprises, like two French steeplers running to steal the race down the last straight. Kemboi is not about surprises, he likes being the World Champion.
Brimin Kiprop Kipruto, 2011 WC, steeplechase, silver medalist, photo by PhotoRun.net
Brimin Kiprop Kipruto, is the 2008 Olympic champion and 2007 World Champ. In 2005, he took the bronze. In 2004, Kipruto won the silver. Kipruto trains with Eliud Kipchoge. Kipruto, who has run 8:00.70 for the steeplechase, has traded many a race with Ezekiel Kemboi. Like most of the Kenyan steeplers, Kipruto has raw speed, but his experience in the race, speeding up, slowing down, charging hard, keeps him out of trouble.
Mahiedine Mekhissi Benabbad, France, 2011 WC steeplechase, bronze medalist, photo by PhotoRun.net
This race was super tactical.
Ruben Ramolefi of South Africa, with yellow bandana and all, took the lead, hitting the first kilometer in 2:47.46. From there, Ramolefi dropped to the back of the pack, finishing 13th in 8:30.47.
Up front, behind Ramolefi were Ezekiel Kemboi, Brimin KIptruto, R.K. Mateelong, with Jacob Araptany and Benjamin Kiplagat, both of Uganda. Also menacingly close were the two French giants, Bouabdellah Tahri, and Mekhissi. Tahri is the bronze medalist from 2009, and with the European record at 8:01.18. Both Tahri and Mekhissi are just plain tough runners, and they know how to close for a medal. That the Kenyans let the pace dawdle remains a mystery to me.
Jacob Araptany of Uganda took over the chores after that, and stay very close to the front much of the race, hitting the 2,000 meter mark in 5:33.42.
When Kemboi, Kipruto, Roba Gari of Ethiopia and R.K. Mateelong of Kenya began to push, Tahri and Mekhissi covered every move.
Again, Ezekial Kemboi likes to win. He started to push very hard with a lap to go and started to get some breathing room. Brimin KIprop Kipruto started to break, as Kemboi put two seconds down the final straightaway.
As is their method, Tahri and Mekhissi charged the final water jump, moving into fourth and fifth, with Tahri in the lead. Mekhissi surprised Tahri down the final straight and just charged that last barrier like a bat out of hell, moving into third, as Gari dropped back and then, Mekhissi went hell bent after Brimin KIpruto, who saw the tall French former basketball player storming down the final fifty meters, and did not want any part of Monsieur Mekhissi.
Ezekial Kemboi finished in 8:14.85, taking the gold and then proceeded to provide the crowd with one of the best dance performances of the meet, much better than Ibrahim Jeilan’s after the men’s 10,000 meters. Brimin Kipruto took the silver, running 8:16.5. Mahiedine Mekhissi took the bronze, running 8:17.56, the second WC in a row where a Frenchman took the bronze (in Berlin, Tahri took the bronze). Bouabdellah Tahri took fourth, running a fine 8:18.37. In fifth Roba Gari of Ethiopia ran 8:19.31. In sixth, Jacob Araptany of Uganda ran 8:18.67.
The steeplechase is no longer a place where the Kenya athletes can sweep. French runners are making a strong move here, and the race for London may be a race to burn off any other competitors.
Mekhissi and Tahri were sending a message to see if Kenyans were listening. Let’s see how the Kenyan steeple team deals with the challenge. For nearly two decades, the steeple has been a Kenyan point of pride.
