Jairus Birech, CG steeplechase, photo by Claus Andersen
In an event virtually owned by Kenya, the fabled country swept the steeplechase here, as Justin Lagat writes. He also finishes with a thought that many might shudder about, when do streaks end?
Kenyans finish 1-2-3, yet again, in Glasgow men’s 3000m steeplechase, by Justin Lagat
Kenyan athletes repeated the same feat they did at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India, led by Jonathan Ndiku who also set a new Commonwealth record of 8:10.44 in Glasgow. Jairus Birech won the silver medal in a time of 8:12.68 while world and Olympic champion, Ezekiel Kemboi took the bronze medal in 8:19.73.
Looking at the Kenyans at the podium of this event, one would be forgiven for thinking that the list was accidentally read upside down. Many of his fans had come to believe that Kemboi was invincible when it came to championship races and that Jairus was the only guy to give him a rough time here in Glasgow, but then Ndiku came and carried the day.
Jonathan Ndiku, gold medalist, CG steeplechase,
photo by Claus Andersen
Many fans had some questions to ponder after this race, such as: Was the fact that Kemboi didn’t shave his hair in style before the 3000m steeplechase final in Glasgow the reason why he did not win a gold medal here? Or, was it an indication that he did not need the gold medal as much as he needed the Olympic and World gold medals?
It would have been great for Kemboi to retire with a gold medal here after he had said that this was going to be his last Commonwealth Games. But then again, on the positive side, a bronze medal is the only medal Kemboi has never won during the past Olympics, World Championships and at the Commonwealth Games and perhaps he needed to have some bronze medals in his medal cabinet too before retiring. He already has a collection of six gold medals and five silver medals, and adding a bronze medal there in the cabinet will definitely decorate it nicely.
Jairus Birech, silver medalist, CG, photo by Claus Andersen
Jairus Birech has been in great form this year and has so far won four diamond league races in Rome, Oslo, Lausanne and Monaco besides having the world leading time of 8:02.37 in the event this year. When Kemboi had failed to turn up at the Monaco Diamond League last month, in which many were longing to see both of them run against each other, some alleged that Kemboi was perhaps getting scared of Jairus.
Jonathan Ndiku, to many, was not the favorite to win the gold medal here. He had been running at different distances this year ranging from the 3000m flat, 3000m steeplechase to the 5000m and although he had ben finishing in the top ten positions, he had never made a strong statement in any of the meetings to show that he was the athlete to watch in Glasgow.
During the last stages of the race, Jairus Birech and Jonathan Ndiku were already far ahead of the rest having opened a big gap even on their compatriot, Ezekiel Kemboi who was already some meters behind them. Kemboi had to use a lot of effort in trying to close the gap and had no more strength left in him to match the two leaders when the time to accelerate towards the finish line came.
Ezekial Kemboi Cheboi, bronze medalist, CG,
photo by Claus Andersen
At the end of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, it will remain clear that Kenyans, both men and women, still do dominate the 3000m steeplechase event in the world and the question will remain: For how long will they continue doing so before eventually conforming to the fact that anything that has a beginning has got an ending?
