Amos Serem will spearhead Kenya’s quest to regain the men’s 3,000m steeplechase title as the African Championships continue today in Accra, Ghana.
Kenya enters the contest determined to end a seven-year drought for continental gold in an event the nation has historically dominated on the global stage.
The last Kenyan athlete to capture the African Championships steeplechase title was Conseslus Kipruto during the 2018 edition in Asaba, Nigeria.
The 2016 Olympic champion secured victory in 8:26.38, finishing ahead of Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali, who posted 8:28.01, while Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale claimed bronze after clocking 8:30.87.
At the 2022 championships held in Sainte Pierre, Mauritius, Geoffrey Kirwa earned Kenya a bronze medal in 8:29.74 as Ethiopia swept the top two positions through Hailemaryam Amare (8:27.38) and Tadese Takele (8:28.31).
During the 2024 championships in Douala, Cameroon, Kenya’s Edmund Serem and Mathew Kosgei delivered strong performances but narrowly missed the title. Serem finished second in 8:21.94, while Kosgei settled for bronze in 8:21.98. Uganda’s Leonard Chemutai won gold in 8:21.30.
Now 23, Amos Serem heads to Accra aiming to bounce back after a difficult outing at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on April 24. The Kenyan finished 11th in 8:54.45 in a race won by Ethiopia’s Gemechu Godana, who clocked 8:14.55. Kenya’s Simon Koech and Leonard Bett completed the podium in 8:15.71 and 8:25.06 respectively.
Despite the setback, Serem remains among the continent’s leading young steeplechasers. He rose to prominence at the 2021 World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, where he claimed gold in dominant fashion with a time of 8:30.72.
Ethiopia’s Bikila Tadese took silver in 8:33.15, while Kenya’s Simon Koech secured bronze after posting 8:34.79.
Serem later claimed silver at the 2023 African Games in Ghana, recording 8:25.77 behind Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu, who won the race in 8:24.30.
The Kenyan further underlined his status among the world’s elite in 2024 after winning the Diamond League final in Brussels. Serem produced a powerful late surge to clock 8:06.90 ahead of two-time Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali, who finished second in 8:08.60, while Tunisia’s Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui placed third in 8:09.68.
In Accra, Serem will join forces with Shadrack Kibiwot and Peter Rono as Kenya targets the return of one of its most prized continental athletics titles.
