Uhuru to lead Kenya’s cheering band in men’s steeplechase finale

President Uhuru Kenyatta will travel to Moscow for Thursday’s 3,000 metres steeplechase final.

The President will be making extensive tours in Asia and Europe, after receiving official invitations from Chinese President, Xi Jinping, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

“President Kenyatta will be making an elaborate state visit to China from August 19 to 23, but the itinerary for his Russia visit is not yet clear,” State House spokesman, Manoah Esipisu, revealed on Monday. “But I can tell you it is planned in a way that will allow him attend the 3,000m steeplechase finals; he will be part of the crowd,” he said.

Kenya’s dream of a podium sweep in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase was kept alive when Olympic and World Champion, Ezekiel Kemboi, World Junior champion, Conseslus Kipruto, London Olympic Games bronze medallist, Abel Mutai, and 2012 Diamond League winner, Paul Kipsiele, all made it to the finals.

Kipruto and Kipsiele claimed the first two places in their heat, in 8:22.31 and 8:22.88 respectively but Kemboi, who looked strong in his heat, relaxed towards for American Evan Jager to win in  8:23.76.

Kemboi settled for second in 8:23.84, and Frenchman Noureddine Smaïl (8:24.05) third to also make it to the final. Mutai came third in 8:19.15 in a heat won by London Olympics silver medallist, Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, in 8:15.43, followed by Canadian Matthew Hughes’ 8:16.93.

“My dream is to win the World Championships title,” said Kipruto, who wants to win gold and also break the World Junior record. “We need to keep our focus on the trophy,” reiterated Kipsiele, optimistic success following an impressive Diamond League show.

In the same breath, the nation will on Tuesday, hold its collective breath in anticipation of the belated success in the women’s 3000m steeplechase final as Milcah Chemos, Lydia Chepkurui and Hyvin Kiyeng compete in the event’s final.

Kenya has only won bronze since the women’s steeplechase was introduced at the world Championships in 2005. Jeruto Kiptum finished third in 2005 Helsinki, and Eunice Jepkorir won bronze in 2007 Osaka, as did Chemos in the 2009 Berlin and 2011 Daegu events.

The threat posed by the Russians is real and, despite Olympic and World champion, Yuliya Zarudneva Zaripova being out with an injury, Kenya’s steeplechase coach, Boniface Tiren, is cautious. “We have in place a mechanism that will stop Russian dominance at their home turf. Kenya will earn her maiden crown,” said Tiren. “But we must look out for the three Ethiopians in the final.”

Chepkurui (9:13.75) and Chemos (9:14.17) may have world-leading times this season but they are not blind to Ethiopian strength. The Ethiopians have London Olympics runners-up, Sofia Assefa, who finished third in the semis heat behind Chemos and Kiyeng, and Etenesh Diro, who beat Chepkurui.

“We understand what is expected of us, and we’ve got the best chance, but I call on Kenyans to pray for us,” said Chemos. “I have always been bothered about perennially winning bronze and I hope to change that.”

Chepkurui’s expressed confidence they are psychologically and physically prepared for a fast-paced race, sentiments echoed by team mate Kiyeng. “The odds favour us to prevail. We just need to have our tactics right and work as a team.”

Hope for first gold in metric mile

Meanwhile, Kenya’s resilience comes to a major test on Tuesday when 2008 Beijing Olympics, champion Jebet Lagat, double World Junior titlist, Faith Cheng’etich, and Helen Obiri field in the 1500m semi-finals. “We are praying that God will grant us victory today; we really want to be in the finals,” said Chepng’etich.

Obiri, who tripped and fell during the finals of the 2011 Daegu Worlds, is hoping for the best, and said the semi-final portend and trait the start of the real tussle.

“I am going to run the best of the races for myself and my country,” said Obiri, who won the World Indoor 3000m last year. I pray that everything be fine this time.”

Obiri (3:58.58) goes into a heat two that has defending champion, USA’s Jennifer Simpson, and 2012 Diamond League winner, Ethiopian-born Swede Abeba Aregawi, who also has world-lead time of 3:56.60. Also in the race is 2011 Daegu bronze medallist, UK’s Hannah England. “I know it’s a rich field but I believe in my capacities,” said Obiri.

Cheng’etich (3:56.98) and Jebet (4:01.41) will compete in the first heat, which will feature 2012 World Indoors 1500m champion, Gezebe Dibaba (3:57.54). Kenya is eyeing its inaugural gold medal over the metric mile race at the world tournament.