Samuel Firewu Shocks Olympic Champion El Bakkali to Win Steeplechase Title in Xiamen

Samuel Firewu Shocks Olympic Champion El Bakkali to Win Steeplechase Title in Xiamen

Abigael Wafula 16:30 - 26.04.2025

The Ethiopian ran a tactical race to claim the win in a meeting record and world-leading time at the Diamond League Meeting in Xiamen.

The men’s 3000m steeplechase at the Diamond League Meeting in Xiamen saw Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu run a tactical race to beat Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali.

The race started out quite fast, with Olympic bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwott leading the pack as they crossed the 400m mark, just behind the pacers.

Two-time Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali was running closely in second place, passing the 400m mark.

As the men covered the second lap, Kibiwott was still looking comfortable in the lead with Bakkali and Ethiopia’s Samwel Firewu running in second and third places respectively.

The Kenyan duo of Edmund Serem and Samuel Koech were following closely behind the leading group. As they passed the 1600m mark, with only one pacer left, Abraham Kibiwott was still in the lead, looking determined to take the win.

Two-time world champion Bakkali was right behind with the Ethiopian duo of Samwel Firewu and Samuel Duguna. Passing the 2000m mark, Kibiwott was still in the lead, but Bakkali had a plan.

Bakkali took over, but shortly before, the Ethiopian Samuel Firewu overtook him in the closing stages, taking the win in a meeting record time of 8:05.61.

El Bakkali was forced to take the second place, crossing the line in a season's best time of 8:06.66. Simon Koech came from behind to round up the podium, clocking 8:07.12.

Edmund Serem, Amos Serem’s young brother, on his Diamond League debut, crossed the finish line fourth, just outside the podium bracket as he clocked 8:08.50.

Abraham Kibiwott who had done most of the work in the race could only afford a seventh-place finish, crossing the line in a time of 8:10.13.

Tags: