Ezekiel Kemboi Speaks on Kenya's Poor Results in 3000M Steeplechase

Kemboi
Ezekiel Kemboi leads the 3000m steeplechase during the London 2012 Olympics.
PHOTO:
Courtesy
olympics.com

Steeplechase legend Ezekiel Kemboi has come out to speak on Kenya's failure to dominate the steeplechase race events in the past years. 

Aside from being a marathon powerhouse, Kenya is also known to produce champions in the 3000m men's steeplechase race.

Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco recently became the first non-Kenyan to hold both the Olympic and World title after winning gold during the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.

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“When I was retiring, I thought he (Conseslus Kipruto) was going to take over but now he has let us down. I talked to him after the finals (Oregon) and told him to put Oregon aside and focus on Paris Olympics,” Kemboi noted. 

Kemboi also revealed that during his time as an athlete he would train for not less than six months before going participating in any race. 

"I could do my training for six months just before any competition, and I could also do two races just to test my fitness. 

“Currently, as you can see, most of these young athletes do participate in 10 races just before the championship, so by the time the race happens, they are worn out,” Kemboi added. 

The 40-year-old also requested both the National and County governments to invest in athletics by constructing new training facilities and renovating existing ones.

The athletics legend who still refers to himself as an active athlete revealed that he would be seeking to coach the Kenyan team.

“My request to both the national and County governments is to do the renovation and completion of training facilities before the next Olympics. 

“Maybe next year (2023) for the championships and also the Olympics I will offer myself to coach the men's steeplechase team,” Kemboi stated.

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