World Under-20 3,000m steeplechase champion Edmund Serem
is targeting a sub-eight-minute performance in the water-and-barrier
race after a breakthrough podium finish at the Shanghai Diamond League.
Serem opened his 2025 track season with back-to-back Diamond League appearances in Xiamen and Shanghai.
In
his first appearance in Xiamen, Serem narrowly missed the podium after
placing fourth, clocking 8:08.50 to set a new personal best.
Ethiopia's
Samuel Firewu (8:05.61), Morocco's Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali
(8:06.66) and Simon Koech (8:07.12) completed the podium.
While
speaking to the Star earlier, Serem revealed that his next target was
securing a podium placing in his second outing in Shanghai.
True to his word, Serem clocked 8:08.68 to place second in Shanghai, trailing Ethiopia's Abraham Sime (8:07.92).
Koech completed the podium after clocking 8:09.05.
Serem has now set his sights on cracking a sub-eight performance as he gears up for the Tokyo 2025 World Championships.
"Moving forward, I am aiming for the World Championships and to run under eight minutes," Serem said.
Serem highlighted his growth since the Xiamen meet, noting his steady improvement and transition into the senior ranks. "This is my second Diamond League and I am really happy with it."
"Last
week in Xiamen, I finished fourth place, and I ran 8.08 with my
personal best, and this time I had a better result, so I am improving,"
Serem said.
Serem’s rise through the senior ranks has been smooth since winning the World U20 title in Lima, Peru.
In
Lima, he ran a world-leading U20 time of 8:15.28 to edge out compatriot
Mathew Kosgei (8:17.46) and Ethiopia’s Hailu Ayalew (8:24.08).
He later bagged silver at the African Championships in Douala, clocking 8:21.94 behind Uganda’s Leonard Chemutai (8:21.30).
Meanwhile, Simon Koech has his eyes on redemption at the Rabat Diamond League set for May 25. "My next race is in Rabat Diamond League," Koech said.
In Rabat, Koech will be hoping to improve his position after back-to-back third-place finishes in Xiamen and Shanghai.
"Today,
I can say I was pleased with position three (the same as he achieved in
Xiamen last week). I know something good is coming."
"I am very satisfied with my performances in China, I'm very happy," Koech said.
Just like Serem, Koech is hoping to fine-tune his form ahead of the Tokyo World Championships. "This season, I hope to be on top at the World Championships."
Elsewhere,
in the men’s 100m, Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, struggled
to find his top gear, finishing last in 10.25 seconds.
The Kenyan sprinter is still chasing his first sub-10-second performance of the season.
His
recent outings have seen him clock 10.22 (third place) and 10.08 (first
place) at the ASA Grand Prix in South Africa, 10.09 (first place) at
the 3rd Ugandan National Trials, 10 seconds (second place) at the FNB
Botswana Golden Grand Prix and 10.13 (second place) at the Xiamen
meeting.
Red-hot South African Akani Simbine continued his blistering form, storming to victory in 9.98.
Simbine has now claimed back-to-back Diamond League victories after clocking 9.99 in Xiamen.
In
Shanghai, Simbine edged out Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson
(9.99) and Botswana’s 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo (10.03).
