NAIROBI, Kenya, July 8 – National 3000m steeplechase champion Simon Koech believes he is the best man to face Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali at this year’s World Championships in Budapest as Kenya seeks to reclaim its dominance at the global level.
Koech says he has something unique to offer at the worldwide championships in the Hungarian capital, which he believes will enable Kenya to reclaim the world title it lost at the last edition of the championships in Oregon, United States, last year.
“For now, it would be premature for me to say conclusively about the men’s 3000m steeplechase. However, winning today’s race is a new breath of confidence for me. I feel the expectations of Kenyans to retain the world title in the men’s steeplechase and I will try my best to bring it back to Kenya,” Koech said.
Kenya has had a stranglehold on the men’s 3000m steeplechase until the 2021 Tokyo Olympics when Bakkali loosened this grip by clinching gold.
The Moroccan continued his newfound domination of Kenyans at last year’s World Championships in Oregon where he timed 8:25.13 to clinch the global title in United States.
On his part, Koech clocked 8:34.79 to clinch bronze at the 2021 World Under 20 Championships in Nairobi but has somewhat struggled to break into the senior level despite excelling for his employer, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
The 20-year-old has struggled to make into Team Kenya’s squad for major international competitions thus far, but notes that he will use the latest opportunity to redeem Kenya’s image in water-and-barriers race.
“This has always been my dream…to progress from the junior level to the senior one and to do my country proud. Part of the focus here today was to improve on aspects of my running that needs work and I am proud that I have gone some way in achieving that,” Koech said.
He was speaking in the aftermath of winning the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the national trials for the World Championships at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
Koech clocked 89:22.55 in first place as Commonwealth Games silver medalist Abraham Kibiwott (8:26.45) and Leonard Bett (8:26.99) finished second and third respectively.
