2023 African Games: Kenya Claim First Athletics Medal Through Amos Serem, Ethiopia Take Gold

• Amos Serem has clinched Kenya's first athletics medal at the 2023 African Games
• The Kenyans were beaten by the Ethiopians, led by Samuel Debisa, who took gold
• Two Kenyans finished inside the top three to kick off an exciting week of athletics

Amos Serem has won Kenya's first track medal at the 2023 African Games.

The Kenyans were beaten by Ethiopia's Samuel Debisa, who took gold ahead of Serem. Simon Kiprop finished third to complete the podium.

The athletics rivals dominated from start to finish, with Kenya leading for much of the race. However, they couldn't find the extra gear to sprint to the finish.

Debisa clocked a time of 8:24:30, Serem finished in 8:25 77, and Kiprop crossed the finish line in 8:26:19.

Lee Kang-in named in South Korea squad despite Son bust-up

Football

Another Kenyan, Edmund Serem, finished sixth in 8:31:21, with his nation and Ethiopia taking each of the first six places, per African Games.

The Kenyans are trying to recapture the title they have dominated for many decades. Serem took bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Kenya's 3000m steeplechase decline

The East Africans are known for their dominance in the men's 3000m steeplechase.

Apart from the 1976 and 1980 Olympics, when Kenya boycotted the Olympic games, they had won 11 successive titles.

Amos Biwott, Ezekiel Kemboi, Kipchoge Keino, Matthew Birir, Joseph Keter, and Brimin Kipruto have all won an Olympic title in the distance.

Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali has dominated the event in the last few years, from the Diamond League circuit to the World Athletics Championships.

Olympic and world champion, El Bakkali, and world record holder, Lamecha Girms, are expected to dominate the race in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.

African Games 2023: Abeiku Jackson wins Ghana's first ever medal in swimming

Other Sports

Kipchoge beaten in Tokyo

Sports Brief reported on legendary Kenyan marathon racer, Eliud Kipchoge, finishing the Tokyo Marathon 10th.

Benson Kipruto ran a new course record time, to win in 2:02:16, with Timothy Kiplagat in second with 2:02:55.

It was a bad start for Kipchoge, who is looking to claim his third Olympic gold medal for the third time in a row.