The Kenyan trio of Amos Serem, Abraham Kibiwot, and Simon Koech have advanced to the finals of the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their qualification added to a successful Monday for Team Kenya at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris, following Wiseman Were’s advancement to the 400 metres hurdles semifinals.

Amos Serem’s journey to the final was dramatic, needing a referee’s decision to secure his spot. In Heat One, Serem was pushed by another athlete before clearing the final barrier on the penultimate lap, causing him to lose balance and delay his jump. Despite the setback, the 21-year-old World U20 champion showed immense determination, sprinting to catch up with the leading pack. Serem finished sixth with a time of 8:18.41, just 0.08 seconds behind the fifth-place finisher, Tunisian Ahmed Jaziri. Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali, the reigning world and Olympic champion, won the heat in 8:17.90.

Serem’s appeal regarding the push was successful, allowing him to advance to the final. Reflecting on the incident, Serem said, “I was pushed at the barrier by an athlete from behind, and the barrier was too close to jump; otherwise, I would have tripped.”

In Heat Two, Abraham Kibiwot led from the start, wary of potential mishaps like Serem’s. Kibiwot secured a comfortable third-place finish with a time of 8:12.02, behind Morocco’s Mohamed Tindouft, who won in a personal best of 8:10.62, and Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu, who clocked 8:11.61.

Simon Koech competed in Heat Three, which was the slowest of the night. Koech finished third in a photo finish with American Kenneth Rooks, both clocking 8:24.95. The heat was won by Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma, the world record holder, in 8:23.89.

The final of the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase will take place on Wednesday, August 7, where the Kenyan trio will aim to secure medals.