Kipruto claims steeplechase gold

Kenyan middle distance runner Brimin Kiprop Kipruto added Olympic gold to his world championship title by winning the men's 3000m steeplechase.

The 23-year-old held off a late charge from Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of win in eight minutes 10.34 seconds.

Mekhissi-Benabbad took silver for France with Kenyan Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong claiming bronze.

Kipruto, runner-up at Athens 2004, ensured the title has gone to a Kenyan at every Games since 1980.

The last non-Kenyan to win the event was Poland's Bronislaw Malinowski, who took gold at the 1980 Moscow Games, which the Kenyans boycotted.

Kipruto's time was comfortably below Qatari Saif Saeed Shaheen's world record of seven minutes 53.63 seconds, with Mekhissi-Benabbad coming through in 8:10.49 and Mateelong a further 0.12secs adrift.

Defending Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi, also of Kenya, finished in seventh spot, more than five seconds off the pace.

606: DEBATE
"I can't believe a non-African got a medal in the steeplechase - well done to him"
AceofWands

Kemboi, also a silver medallist in the last three world championships, set the early pace alongside 19-year-old Ugandan Benjamin Kiplagat.

Sweden's Somali-born Mustafa Mohamed took up the reins but with four-and-a-half laps to go, American Anthony Famiglietti upped the pace of a slow race.

Famiglietti faded badly after that as Mohamed, Kemboi and Mekhissi-Benabbad moved to the fore.

The last lap saw Kipruto burst through with team-mate Mateelong, the world bronze medallist from Osaka 2007, and Mekhissi-Benabbad.

Kipruto held off the Frenchman in the final sprint for the line.

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