Ezekiel Kemboi , Brimin Kiprop Kipruto and Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong all of Kenya celebrate following the Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final (© Getty Images)
Even with their world No.1Paul Kipsiele Koech – a surprise absentee after finishing fourth at the Olympic Trials **, Kenya fully expect to retain their iron-like grip on this title.
The remarkable East African nation have won each of the last six Olympic steeplechase gold medals and their winning sequence stretches back to 1968 if we discount the 1976 and 1980 Games which Kenya boycotted.
Defending champion Ezekiel Kemboi has proved one of the most formidable steeplechase competitors in recent years and is strongly fancied to repeat the achievements of Finland’s Volmari Iso-Hollo the last man to secure back to back titles in 1936.
Kemboi, 26, proved the No.1 at the Kenyan trials and has also claimed three successive World Championship silver medals. He has limited his appearances over the barriers this season but finished second – behind world champion Brimin Kipruto - in Rome before winning in Athens in a season’s best 8:09.25.
Kipruto would appear the main threat. After edging Kemboi at the 2007 World Championships, Kipruto began the season modestly, placing fifth in Doha and fourth in Hengelo. But his victory in the Rome Golden League meeting showed he is back to his best form.
The third string Kenyan – Richard Matelong – took the bronze medal at 2007 World Championships and booked his place at the Olympic Games by finishing third in the Kenyan Trials.
He landed the gold medal at the African Championships in Addis Ababa in May, but only finished a distant seventh in Paris.
The main threat to Kenyan hegemony will come from, Kenya-born Tareq Mubarak Taher who represents Bahrain. Taher, the 2006 Asian Games winner, showed his medal credentials by finishing third in Rome and winning at the Paris Golden League meeting in 8:08 –albeit in a race minus Kemboi and Kipruto.
Mustafa Mohamed is the main European standard bearer. The Swede, who finished fourth at last summer’s World Championships, is another medal threat. The European cross country silver medallist has competed sparingly this season but third place finishes in Paris and Stockholm – the former in a season’s best of 8:11.10 hints at his medal ability.
Morocco has a solid-looking challenge in the shape of Pan Arab silver medallist Hamid Ezzine (8:13.20) and Brahim Taleb (8:14.32).
Meanwhile, Ethiopia will hope Nahom Mesfin, who set a national junior record of 8:14.68 in Neerpelt in May, can become only the second athlete from that nation to win an Olympic steeplechase medal, following Eshetu Tura's bronze in 1980.
Another dark horse could be Uganda’s Benjamin Kiplagat, who claimed silver at the World Junior Championships and set a national junior record of 8:14.29 in Hengelo.
France’s experienced Bouabdellah Tahri (8:12.72) and his countryman Vincent Zouaoui Dandrieaux (8:14.74) could also make an impression.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
** Paul Kipsiele Koech is a reserve on the Kenyan team, and until 24hrs before an event’s opening round teams do not need to declare who will be running at the Games if they have named four athletes for an event.
