World's finest steeplechasers collide at Paris Diamond League meet

Jarius Kipchoge Birech of Kenya celebrates winning the 3000m Steeplechase of the Diamond League athletics competition at Bislett Stadium in Oslo, June 11, 2015. PHOTO | NTB SCANPIX | VIDAR RUUD | AFP

What you need to know:

  • A visa hitch forced Olympic and World 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi to remain behind on Wednesday night
  • The 3,000m steeplechase Series defending champion, Jairus Birech, who has won in Shanghai and Oslo so far, said he is out to claim a hat-trick of wins

IN PARIS

Kenyan athletes were in buoyant mood as they arrived in Paris on Thursday ready for the Areva Diamond League meet set for on Saturday at Stade de France.

However, a visa hitch forced Olympic and World 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi to remain behind on Wednesday night and efforts were being made to have him in Paris before the event.

It’s during the 2013 Paris Diamond League meet where Kemboi set the meet record of 7:59.03. Steeplechase didn’t feature at last year’s Paris Meet. Kemboi won in the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in a world lead time of 8:01.71.

The 3,000m steeplechase Series defending champion, Jairus Birech, who has won in Shanghai and Oslo so far, said he is out to claim a hat-trick of wins as he gears up for the World Championships due August 22 to 30 in Beijing, China.

World 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Consenslus Kipruto, who has been battling hamstring and lower back injuries, hopes to conjure his first victory in the Diamond League since 2013 when he won the Series.

Even though he started his training late, Paul Kipsiele Koech, the winner of the 2009, 2010 and 2012 Diamond League Series, said his narrative resonates well with that of the wine that matures with age.

BEST OF THE BEST

Kemboi, Birech, Kipruto and Kipsiele are among nine Kenyans in the steeplechase race where they are expected to dominate. Others are the 2008 Olympic champion Birmin Kipruto, Hillary Yego, who created ripples when he won in Stockholm and Zurich in 2013, Lawrence Kemboi, Clement Kemboi and Haron Lagat.

“Even though I have won two events, I am not yet in my best shape,” Birech said. “My target is to retain the Series and be is my best shape ever at the national trials and during the World Championships.”

Birech said the great rivalry among themselves will produce the best in him adding that Kenya is likely to sweep the podium in Beijing. “The good thing about all this is that I am close to everyone including my training mate Ezekiel Kemboi,” Birech said. “We only put our friendship aside for everyone to run his race in competitions.”

However, Birech warned that they should not sleep on their laurels and assume that all the medals will be Kenya’s in Beijing. “We should watch out for Americans Evans Jager and Donald Cabral,” warned the youngster, who will compete in London in two weeks’ time before jetting back for the trials.

Kipruto, who finished third in Shanghai and Eugene and second in Oslo, said he will push for a world championship place even though he's yet to recover fully. “My training hasn’t been good with some slight discomfort at the lower back but I hope with God’s grace, I will be fine to make it to Beijing,” said Kipruto, who is competing in Paris for the first time.

For his part, Kipsiele, who missed the world record (7:53.60) by micro seconds in 2012 Rome when he clocked 7:54.36, said he is determined to run well and get a place in Team Kenya for Beijing.