Amos Serem fired a warning shot to the world after winning gold in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase as the delayed World Athletics Under-20 Championship ended at the Kasarani Stadium yesterday.

It was a fantastic evening for Kenya as Serem reclaimed the title they lost in Tampere in 2018 to Ethiopia as the five-day event concluded at Kasarani Stadium. Serem cheekily said ‘sisi ndio tuko’ to mean we are the current winners.

The victory comes two weeks after the Tokyo Olympics where Kenya lost  in the hurdle and waters race for the first time in many years.

The Form Four student at Chewoiyet High School in West Pokot believes he can match the achievements of the double Olympic champion and four-time world champion Ezekiel Kemboi. 

Kemboi etched his name in history books as one of four athletes to have held the Olympic and world titles in men’s 3,000m steeplechase and the upstart Serem wants to follow in his footsteps.

Indeed, Serem copied Kemboi with a cheeky dance at the finish line to a standing ovation from the VIP area.

“Kemboi is one of the people who paved the way for most of us and we look up to him.

Lately, the Ethiopians have been coming fast onto us and there was a need for us to work hard to maintain our status as a powerhouse in steeplechase.

Before the race I believed I was more than equipped for the task alongside other upcoming steeplechase athletes,” said Serem who hails from Ilulla in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu.

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