3000 meter steeplechase -

Since the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, Kenyan athletes have dominated the 3000 meter steeplechase, winning more than half of all medals, including eight of the ten possible golds. The trend is likely to continue with the absence of world record holder Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar and the positive drug test of the Netherlands' Simon Vroemen. Despite not having two-time world leader Paul Kipsiele Koech on the squad, the Kenyan squad is made of up reigning gold medalist Ezekiel Kemboi, world champ and Athens silver medalist Brimin Kipruto, and 2008 African Champion Richard Matelong.

There are a number of potential threats to the Kenyan steeple dynasty. Tareq Mubarak Taher from Bahrain won the Gaz de France meet in 8:08.53 and Sweden's Mustafa Mohamed is a perennial contender in championship races with a PR of 8:05.75. Another name to look out for is Uganda's 19 year old sensation Benjamin Kiplagat, whose 8:14.29 placed second at the World Junior Championships.

The Bottom Line: Kemboi and Kipruto will battle for the title to the very end, but the defending gold medalist has looked stronger so far this season. Mohamed will hang with the Kenyans until the last 200m and will hang on for bronze.

Gold: Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN)
Silver: Brimin Kipruto (KEN)
Bronze: Mustafa Mohamed (SWE)

2007 World Championships 3000m Steeplechase
1. Brimin Kiprop Kipruto KEN 8:13.82
2. Ezekiel Kemboi KEN 8:16.94
3. Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong KEN 8:17.59
4. Mustafa Mohamed SWE 8:19.82
5. Bouabdallah Tahri FRA 8:20.27
6. Halil Akkas TUR 8:22.51
7. Eliseo Martin ESP 8:22.91
8. Tareq Mubarak Taher BRN 8:22.95
9. Abdelkader Hachlaf MAR 8:24.18
10. Roba Gary ETH 8:25.93
11. Abubaker Ali Kamal QAT 8:26.90
12. Nahom Mesfin Tariku ETH 8:28.86

2004 Athens Olympics 3000m Steeplechase
1. Ezekiel Kemboi KEN 8:05.81
2. Brimin Kipruto KEN 8:06.11
3. Paul Kipsiele Koech KEN 8:06.64
4. Musa Amer Obaid QAT 8:07.18
5. Luis Miguel Martin ESP 8:11.64
6. Simon Vroemen NED 8:13.25
7. Bouabdallah Tahri FRA 8:14.26
8. Ali Ezzine MAR 8:15.58
9. Eliseo Martin ESP 8:15.77
10. Vincent Ledauphin FRA 8:16.15
11. Daniel Lincoln USA 8:16.86
12. Radoslaw Poplawski POL 8:17.32
13. Mustafa Mohamed SWE 8:18.05
14. Antonio David Jimenez ESP 8:22.63
15. Khamis Abdullah Saifeldin QAT 8:36.66