After a commanding Kenyan display on the global stage at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Simon Koech believes the country is steadily reclaiming its dominance in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, insisting the future of the water-and-barrier event is brighter than ever.
In recent years, Kenya has struggled to recapture the global steeplechase crown in the men’s event.
At the World Championships, Kenya has gone without gold in the last three editions, with Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali claiming back-to-back titles in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023 before Australia’s Geordie Beamish captured the 2025 crown in Tokyo.
Those results are a far cry from Kenya’s golden era at the World Championships, where the nation reigned supreme for 12 consecutive years. Brimin Kipruto threw open the floodgates with victory in Osaka in 2007, while Conseslus Kipruto was the last Kenyan to stand atop the podium after triumphing in Doha in 2019.
The Olympic Games have told a similar story, with Kenyan stars missing out on gold in the last two editions as El Bakkali struck in Tokyo 2020 and successfully defended his title in Paris 2024.
Before that, Kenya had enjoyed a remarkable 32-year unbeaten streak in the men’s water-and-barrier event. Julius Kariuki ignited that golden run with victory in Los Angeles in 1984, while Kipruto was the last Kenyan to strike Olympic gold in Rio 2016.
However, Koech believes that script could soon be rewritten after Kenya’s emphatic campaign at the Commonwealth Games.
Kenya completed a dominant clean sweep of the men’s steeplechase podium, with youngster Edmund Serem leading the charge in 8:18.23 as Koech settled for silver in 8:18.59. Leonard Bett completed the Kenyan domination by claiming bronze in 8:21.63.
Koech expressed satisfaction with his silver medal-winning performance in Glasgow. “I am very happy with my performance in Glasgow,” Koech said upon arriving at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
More importantly, Koech believes Kenya is on the verge of rediscovering the winning formula in the men’s steeplechase. “I promise that this is just the beginning. I believe that the future for Kenya is very bright,” he added.
Bett echoed those sentiments, saying the trio had accomplished their mission for the nation. “It was a successful mission for us at the Commonwealth Games, where all of us got on the podium. We delivered for Kenya,” he said.
The silver medal in Glasgow adds another milestone to an already impressive and growing trophy cabinet for the 22-year-old Koech. His honours include bronze medals at the 2021 World Under-20 Championships and the 2024 African Games, as well as gold at the 2024 African Military Games and the 2023 Diamond League Final.
The Glasgow performance also crowned what has already been a superb 2026 campaign on the Diamond League circuit.
Koech launched his season in Rabat on May 31, where he finished third in a lifetime best of 7:59.44. Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali stormed to victory in 7:57.25, as Germany’s Frederik Ruppert claimed second in 7:57.80. In his next outing in Stockholm on June 7, Koech narrowly missed the podium after placing sixth in 8:13.40. He, however, bounced back in style on July 10 in Monaco, producing a commanding front-running display to storm to victory in 8:03.35.
Japan’s Ryuji Miura finished second in 8:10.30, while compatriot and reigning World U20 champion Serem completed the podium in 8:11.15.
