President William Ruto among other leaders have celebrated World Under-20 steeplechase champion Edmund Serem for winning Bronze medal in Tokyo.
The win added to Kenya’s medal tally at the Tokyo World Championships after powering to bronze in the punishing water-and-barrier contest.
Serem clocked 8:34.56, securing his maiden senior global medal in a race that produced one of the biggest upsets of the championships.
The President has congratulated Serem for the win praising the Kenyan talent in athletics for securing the future.
“We salute 17-year-old Edmund Serem for clinching a bronze medal in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. With such rising talent, Kenya’s future in athletics is secure,” Ruto said.
Health CS Aden Duale celebrated Serem for the win saying he is the hope of the country’s next generation.
“Well done to Edmund Serem for securing a bronze medal in the men's 3000m steeplechase at the 2025 World Championships. At just 17, he stands as the hope of Kenya's next generation of champions,” he added.
Interior PS Raymond Omollo said the success of Serem assures Kenyans that athletics legacy is safe with them under control.
“Heartfelt congratulations to 17-year old Edmund Serem on his remarkable bronze in the 3000m steeplechase at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships. His success assures us that Kenya's athletics legacy is in safe hands,” Omollo said.
In Heat One, 2020 Olympic silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot advanced to the final after placing fourth in 3:35.61, trailing the Netherlands' Niels Laros (3:35.50) and Britain’s duo of Josh Kerr (3:35.53) and Jake Wightman (3:35.56).
Wiseman Were booked his place in the men’s 400m hurdles semifinals with a 48.27, finishing in fifth place in heat one.
Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba (48.03), Britain’s Tyri Donovan (48.26), and American Chris Robinson (48.27) claimed the automatic slots, but Were’s time was enough to see him through as one of the fastest losers.
New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish stunned pre-race favourite and Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali with a storming final sprint to snatch gold in 8:33.88, just ahead of the Moroccan’s 8:33.95. Olympic bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwott failed to keep up with the relentless pace and registered a DNF.
In the men’s 1,500m semifinals, 2022 World U-20 champion Reynold Cheruiyot spearheaded Kenya’s charge into Wednesday’s final.
The youngster clocked 3:36.64 to win Heat Two, holding off American Cole Hocker (3:36.67) and Spain’s Adrian Ben (3:36.78).
