Kenya: Kemboi delivers London 2012 gold at last

The wait for gold in London 2012 for Kenya is finally over as Ezekiel Kemboi won the men 3,000m steeplechase race and his place in history as the first two-time Olympic champion on Sunday night to spark raptures in a nation starved of glory.

From our Top Partner, Capital FM
And there is no doubt that the man who was vilified in the country in June after being charged with assault is arguably the best steeplechaser of all time after deploying his finish to perfection to once again, become the beloved son of the land.

It was a race that eagerly-awaited with tension around the country after Kenya missed out on top honours in the women 10,000m, men 10,000m and earlier in the day, the women marathon.

American pair, Donald Cabral and Evan Jager nosed ahead after the start, with the former passing through 1,000m in 2:52.70 before African champion and Olympics upstart, Abel Mutai stepped up to the plate to take charge.

As they came for 2,000m, defending champion, Brimin Kipruto, the third Kenyan in the race stumbled but recovered to stay in the lead pack that had Mutai who led at that point in 5:43.26, France’s silver winner from Beijing, Mekhissi-Benabbad, Ethiopia’s Roba Gari and of course, Kemboi.

The lead quartet of Mutai, Roba, Kemboi and Benabbad crossed the penultimate lap with Kipruto trying to storm back to contention but at the back straight coming to the bell, he once again tripped.

With 400m to go, Kemboi caught up with his compatriot and as they came for the last 300m, the Athens winner took charge with a measured dash that saw him clear the final water barrier with panache.

Only one more hurdle stood in his way and with this expertly dispatched and after checking to ensure all was clear, he then re-enacted his cross-lane finish in Daegu, arriving at the line pumping his fist.

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