KipKeino Classic: Edmund Serem holds off late charge to clinch steeplechase title

By , June 2, 2025

World Under 20 champion Edmund Serem exhibited nerves of steel to win the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the Absa Kip Keino Classic at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

The youngster stopped the timer at 8:27.68 to cross the finish line, holding off a last-minute challenge from Dinka Fikadu, who had to make peace with a second-place finish – clocking a personal best of 8:27.97.

Serem saluted the vociferous home crowd, thanking them for spurring him to victory when all seemed lost.

“I competed last week in Rabat and now at home. I’m overwhelmed by how the crowd has cheered me. That’s a memory I will always carry with me when I’m competing outside,” the African 3000m steeplechase silver medalist said.

Serem was competing less than a week after clocking a season’s best of 8:07.47 to finish third in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the fourth leg of the Diamond League in Rabat on Sunday.

Meanwhile, African 800m silver medallist Lilian Odira booked her ticket to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after clinching victory in the women’s two-lap race at the day-long event.

Odira, running her first outdoor 800m race of the season, delivered a perfectly paced tactical performance at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, stopping the clock at a personal best of 1:58.31.

She held off Botswana’s Nowe Oratile, who also set a personal best of 1:58.47 to finish second.

African champion Sarah Moraa completed the podium in third place with another personal best of 1:58.96, making it a high-quality race with all top three finishers dipping under two minutes.

Last year’s winner and reigning world 800m champion Mary Moraa did not take part in this year’s race.

“I have really worked hard from the cross-country build-up. I was coming to gauge my body,” Odira said.

“Clocking a new personal best in my first 800m outdoor competition was huge — and qualifying for Tokyo,” he added.

Second-placed Oratile Nowe of Botswana expressed mixed feelings about the outcome.

“I expected to win, but I’m happy to have finished the race healthy,” Nowe said.

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