Kenya's steeplechase athletes moving up a few distances to the marathon

When Michael Kipyego won the Tokyo Marathon last Sunday, it could have passed for just any other victory by our Kenyan men in world’s major marathons every other weekend. But Kipyego’s triumph at the 42 km distance was unique in that he is a former 3000m steeplechase runner and signals a trend amongst athletes in that event making a sharp trajectory move from that middle distance track event straight to the marathon.

And he is not the first one, only that he has found success at the longer distance quicker than he did at the track. Current steeplechase stars such as Olympic and World Champions Ezekiel Kemboi and Brimin Kipruto have expressed interest in moving up to the marathon, soon after their steeplechase careers are over.

But why do most steeplechasers the move to the marathon and not to the next logical event, the 5000 meters or the 10,000 meters on the track?

One reason could be that the event is so specialized as the physical attributes required of a successful steeplechaser include the speed of a middle distance runner, the stamina of a cross country runner, the strength and flexibility of the 400 hurdler, and the ability to thrive under unpredictable race conditions and pace variations.

Another reason could be that most need a new challenge and the longer track races do not pose an interesting enough test and greater financial rewards as the road races do.

On the other hand, great steeplechasers are extraordinarily tough and determined athletes with exceptional force of will as well as finely developed skills, as proved by the great Moses Kiptanui and Peter Koech who excelled in the 5000m after tremendous careers in the steeplechase.

But this interesting phenomenon amongst steeplechasers brings about questions about our succession planning for this event. Despite our tremendous history and strong heritage in the steeplechase, we need to plan ahead. 

Since 1968, Kenya has won every single Olympic steeplechase except for boycotts in ’76 and 80. A Kenyan born runner has gotten gold and silver in the steeplechase at every World Championship and Olympic Games since 1988 with the exception of 2001 when they got gold and bronze. Kenya born athletes swept the medals in 1992, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2007. 8 out of the top 10 all time fastest times in the steeplechase are by Kenyans. 9 if you count Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar, formerly Stephen Cherono of Kenya.

Basically, no country dominates an event like Kenya dominates the steeplechase. It is our marquee event!

But it takes just one major championship without a win in the steeplechase, a real possibility, to uncover our lack of succession planning.

Since 2003, our steeplechase titles and medals have been acquired by only four athletes; Ezekiel Kemboi, Brimin Kipruto, Paul Koech and Richard Mateelong. It is the only event in Kenya where our athletes show tremendous consistency, an important characteristic for success at the highest level and this is self evident with this group. But they can’t continue at this level for much longer.

Beyond these four, there are still quality athletes in the pipeline, but few that show the determination and character to win major races. 

Given that the competition is getting stiffer with the French and even Ugandans getting closer, we need to prepare for the succession of the next great Kenyan steeplechasers rather than just imagining that we can ride on the national pride of our domination of the event for years to come.