Kenya strikes double gold

Kenyan 1-2 in the steeplechase again

After a drought of winning medals Kenya has won its first two gold medals in spectacular style.

Reuben Seroney won the men's 3000m steeplechase in a controversial dash for the line with team-mate Wilson Boit Kipketer.

As I was running I was thinking what it would be like if Kenyan did not win gold

  Reuben Seroney

But in an outstanding performance, Noah Ngeny produced the shock of the games in the 1500m by outsprinting hot favourite Hicham El Guerrouj.

The 21-year-old Ngeny, last year's world silver medallist behind El Guerrouj, stuck to him like a shadow throughout the race and then found the power to forge past in the final straight, winning in 3:32.07 - a new Olympic record.

World record holder El Guerrouj's legs seemed to go in the final straight as he finished in 3:32.32. Bernard Lagat of Kenya took bronze.

Tactics

The 3000m was a captivating tactical race with Moroccans trying to upset the Kenyan dominance in the event.

Noah Ngeny: Surprise winner in the 1500m

Since Amos Biwott's gold in 1968 they have won every 3000m steeplechase title they have competed in.

The three Kenyans dictated the pace and when it came to the final push it was Seroney, the Kenyan national champion, and Kipketer, second in the world championships last year, who found themselves battling for the gold.

Despite a bump which appeared to unbalance the former world record holder, Kipketer was the first to rush across and congratulate the 21-year-old after the race.

"We were both so excited we did not realise how close we were," said Kipketer.

Kenya record

"I am just happy we won and Kenya keeps up its record in the event. It is also our first gold medal of the games," he added.

Seroney, received a phone call from Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi, as he left the track, and said he never had any doubts he would win.

He said that fear of Kenya not winning the title had played on his mind during the race.

"As I was running I was thinking what it would be like if Kenyan did not win gold. There would have been outrage at home and something unbelieveable would have happened to us," he explained.