Fans vote for Ezekiel Kemboi's exploits among 40 Greatest World Championships moments

ATHLETICS Fans vote for Ezekiel Kemboi's exploits among 40 Greatest World Championships moments

Abigael Wafula 15:22 - 30.06.2023

Thousands of fans took part, and the votes have now been counted, and four-time world champion Elias Kemboi has made it to the first list that is out.

To mark the 40th anniversary of the World Athletics Championships, fans from all around the world were asked to vote for the greatest moments from the past four decades of championship action.

Twenty different countries from all six continental areas are represented in the top 40 and moments from all 18 past editions of the World Championships feature in the countdown.

The next installment of the countdown will be published on July 6, and the following 10 moments will be revealed on July 14, with the final top 10 being announced on July 19. But now, without further ado, the countdown begins with moments 40 to 31.

Thousands of fans took part, and the votes have now been counted, and four-time world champion Elias Kemboi has made it to the first list that is out.

In many ways, the men’s steeplechase final at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing was a classic sit-and-kick race – which once again played into the hands of Kemboi.

The Kenyan was reluctant to run at the front of the pack for most of the way, but he remained in contention throughout and was still in touch with the leaders when the kicking started heading into the last lap.

Kemboi’s teammates Conseslus Kipruto, Brimin Kipruto, and Jairus Birech were all in the medal hunt, as were USA’s Evan Jager and Algeria’s Brahim Taleb. 

Kemboi put in a burst of speed with just over half a lap to go, breezing to the front of the pack. Kipruto tried to stick with him in the closing stages but stuttered over the final barrier and could only look on as Kemboi strode to victory in 8:11.28.

It was Kemboi’s fourth world title in succession, having also won in 2009, 2011, and 2013. He also led a historic 1-2-3-4 finish for Kenya – the first time one country has filled the top four places in the steeplechase at the World Championships.

Others who have been selected among the top 10 include Hicham El Guerrouj who came from a disappointment and in 1997 won his first world title in the 1500m, Joe Kovacs who won the 2019 World shot put title, and, Heike Henkel of Germany who won the high jump at the 1991 World Championships.

Fiona May the 2001 world long jump champion, has also been voted for. Others in the mix include Christian Taylor, Colin Jackson who broke the 110m Hurdles world record at the 1993 World Championships, and Liu Xiang. Blanka Vlasic and Stefka Kostadinova seal the first list of athletes.