Stuck in slow traffic: Avinash Sable finishes 11th in slowest steeplechase final in world championships

Eugene (USA), July 19

India’s Avinash Sable finished 11th in the final of the men’s 3000m steeplechase event on the fourth day of competitions at the World Championships here.

The 27-year-old clocked 8 minutes, 31.75 seconds, way below his season’s and personal best of 8:12.48, which is a national record. He had finished 13th in the last edition in 2019 with the then national record time of 8:21.37.

It was the slowest 3000m steeplechase final in World Championships history with all the medallists clocking way below their season’s and personal bests.

Morocco’s Olympics champion Soufiane El Bakkali, who has a season leading time of 7:58.28, won gold in 8:25.13. Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma, who won silver in both the Tokyo Olympics and last World Championships, finished second in 8:26.01. Kenya’s defending champion Conseslus Kipruto was third with a time of 8:27.92. Kipruto had won gold in the last edition in 8:01.35.

Ending Kenya’s reign

El Bakkali had stayed near the back of the leading pack for much of the race before making the decisive move in the last 200m. It was the first time since 2005 that a Kenyan did not finish top of the podium. El Bakkali said his finishing speed had been the key to victory. “The course was very tactical, slow,” said El Bakkali. “I positioned well in the last lap. I am very strong in the 400m and it worked out for me.” — Agencies