Kenya's representative in the men's 3000m steeplechase at the upcoming World Under 20 Championships Amos Serem believes his career will blossom under coach Patrick Sang due to the latter's vast experience as an athlete.
The 18-year old idolises the double World Championship silver medalist and says he is privileged to learn his trade under Sang.
"It is quite a wonderful opportunity to be trained by Sang who has competed at the highest level and boasts quite a lot of experience in the steeplechase. I'm working on my speed and other technical aspects. With him, I hope I will be able to win more medals like my idol Ezekiel (Kemboi). This is a career that I want to take seriously and if possible, break the world record one day," Serem said.
Sang boasts a decorated CV as an athlete having won silver in the 3000m steeplechase at the 1991 and 1993 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan and Stuttgart, Germany, respectively.
He also clinched silver at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona in the same race.
After hanging up his spikes, he ventured into coaching and is most renowned as the man behind world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge's success on the road.
Serem himself comes from a steeplechase-rich family with his younger brother, Edmond Serem, also a specialist in the water-hurdles-and-barrier race.
The form four student at Chewoyet High School is even dreaming of a future sibling rivalry with Edmond.
"It would be even a bigger honour to compete with my younger brother, Edmond Serem, also a steeplechaser under Brother Colm O’Connell one, " he said.
Serem is currently going through his paces at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani with only two weeks left before the biennial championship on August 17-22.
Also training at the same venue is Simon Koech who wants to follow in the footsteps of steeplechase greats, such as double world and Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi and current world champion Conseslus Kipruto.
“I felt proud when the National anthem was sung in their honour even though I was not the one who had won. That is a moment I am looking forward to every time when I represent my country,” Koech said.
Although he always knew of his steeplechase talent since childhood, the 18-year old admits he never wanted to pursue this path until he was convinced by his coach, John Kimetto.
A podium sweep by the duo on home soil will renew the country's hope of reclaiming the steeplechase crown it lost on Monday at the Tokyo Olympics when Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali clinched gold.
