Just two days after suffering a brutal fall in his heat from which he recovered to finish second, New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish once again displayed remarkable grit to edge out defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco to claim the 3000m steeplechase title at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 on Monday (15).

The historic gold is New Zealand’s first-ever title in a men's track event in the history of the World Championships.

In a slow and tactical final, Beamish remained tucked in the middle of the group for the most part of the race. But, just as he did to win the world indoor 1500m title last year, the Kiwi athlete stormed through out the outside with 30 metres to go to end El Bakkali's streak of four consecutive major titles.

A visibly disappointed El Bakkali took silver in 8:33.95, while Kenya's Edmund Serem's efforts were rewarded with a bronze medal in 8:34.56.

Serem and Germany’s Frederik Ruppert took an early lead, covering the first 600m in 1:49.76 and reaching half way in 4:34.90. The duo, taking on the responsibility of pacing the race although with moderate speed, was closely followed by USA’s Daniel Michalski and Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu.

They cleared the first barrier boldly and quickly as Germany’s Niklas Buchholz closed up, the field still intact. The same quick and bold clearance was replicated at every round of the barriers and the water jump.

Meanwhile, El Bakkali, the champion in 2022 and 2023, running in his trademark style, was trailing at the back, running his own race while carefully monitoring when to kick.

Ethiopia's world record-holder Lamecha Girma, silver medallist at the past three World Championships, was also far behind, with compatriots Firewu and Getnet Wale slightly ahead of him.

After the half way point was passed, Canadian Jean-Simon Desgagnés joined the leading group. Firewu had worked his way up to fourth place alongside Michalski who would assume the lead eventually and increase the pace entering the final two laps. His injection of speed prompted a quick response from Serem, Ruppert, and Firewu.

Girma, competing in just his third competition this year following his hard fall at the Olympic Games last year, moved up to second place at the bell. Teammates Firewu and Wale followed as Michalski pushed the pace. Beamish, still tucked in the middle of the pack, was ready to strike at the opportune time.

El Bakkali made his move to join the pack, while Girma pushed the pace at the front. El Bakkali moved up a gear with 200 metres to go, as did Japan's Ryuji Miura, much to the delight of the home crowd.

El Bakkali looked on course for a third successive world title but, as has been the case in many other races so far at this year’s World Championships, there was a surprise still in store. Beamish stormed into the lead and outsprinted his Moroccan rival to take gold in 8:33.88. El Bakkali settled for silver in 8:33.95 while Serem finished third in 8:34.56.

Michelle Katami for World Athletics