Steeplechase trio out for redemption as El Bakkali awaits in Stockholm showdown

Edmund Serem at the Tokyo World Championships/ FILE

The Kenyan trio of world 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist Edmund Serem, Olympic bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot and 2023 Diamond League finals champion Simon Koech will be out for redemption against Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali when they line up at the Stockholm Diamond League on Sunday.

The three Kenyan water-and-barrier specialists were left chasing shadows by the Moroccan superstar at last weekend's Rabat Diamond League meeting. Roared on by a passionate home crowd, El Bakkali surged to victory in a world-leading 7:57.25, outkicking Germany's Frederik Ruppert, who clocked 7:57.80.

Koech emerged as the best-placed Kenyan, securing third place in 7:59.44, while Serem narrowly missed the podium after crossing fourth in 8:01.61. Kibiwot, meanwhile, struggled to stay in contention and faded to 11th place in 8:12.39. Although he fell short of the podium in Rabat, Serem had plenty to celebrate after slicing a significant chunk off his personal best. "Happy with the new personal best," Serem shared.

The 18-year-old sensation lowered his lifetime best from the 8:04.00 he set at last year's Monaco Diamond League, underlining his rapid rise among the world's elite steeplechasers. Serem had earlier opened his 2026 campaign with a fourth-place finish at the Kip Keino Classic, clocking 8:25.85.

The youngster will be making his maiden appearance at the Stockholm Diamond League as he continues to gain valuable experience on the global stage. Koech, meanwhile, arrives in Stockholm riding a wave of consistency after opening his season with back-to-back podium finishes.

He launched his year with a runner-up finish at the Kip Keino Classic, clocking 8:15.71 behind Ethiopia's Gemechu Godana, who claimed victory in 8:14.55. Leonard Bett completed the podium after posting 8:25.06. Like Serem, Koech will also be making his first appearance in Stockholm.

However, the 22-year-old boasts an impressive pedigree on the Diamond League circuit, having captured the Diamond League Finals crown in 2023 at the Prefontaine Classic. Koech produced a commanding run of 8:06.26 to defeat Ethiopia's Samuel Firewu (8:10.74) and New Zealand's Geordie Beamish (8:14.01). Kibiwot, on the other hand, is still searching for top gear this season.

At the Kip Keino Classic, the Olympic bronze medallist was forced to settle for sixth place in 8:30.86 and will be eager to rediscover the form that established him among the world's leading steeplechasers. 

Yet the Kenyan trio face perhaps the sport's most formidable steeplechase force in El Bakkali, a master of the water jump and barriers whose glittering résumé includes back-to-back Olympic titles in Tokyo and Paris, consecutive world crowns in Eugene and Budapest, and the 2022 Diamond League Finals trophy.

Adding further firepower to an already stacked field are reigning world champion Geordie Beamish of New Zealand and Ethiopian world record holder Lamecha Girma.