Emmanuel Lemiso/ HANDOUTThe 2025 African U18 2,000m steeplechase champion Emmanuel Lemiso will shoulder Kenya's hopes of retaining the men's 3,000m steeplechase crown when he takes to the track at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, for the water-and-barrier Round One showdown at 10.05 pm tonight.
Kenya heads into the global junior showpiece with a rich pedigree in the men's steeplechase, having long established itself as the dominant force in the water-and-barrier discipline.
Since the World U20 Championships were first staged in Athens, Greece, in 1986, Kenya has amassed a record 17 titles in the men's 3,000m steeplechase.
Even more remarkably, the country enjoyed an unbeaten run in the event from the 1988 Championships in Sudbury, Canada, through to the 2016 edition in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
William Chemitei opened the floodgates by storming to victory in 8:41.61 in Sudbury, as Amos Kirui sealed the 2016 title in 8:20.43 before Ethiopia's Takele Nigate finally halted Kenya's dominance in Tampere, Finland, in 2018 after clocking 8:25.35.
Kenya reclaimed the title on home soil in Nairobi in 2021 through Amos Serem, who surged to victory in 8:30.72, before Ethiopia wrestled back the crown in Cali, Colombia, in 2022 courtesy of Samuel Duguna's winning time of 8:37.92.
At the most recent edition in Lima, Peru, in 2024, Edmund Serem restored Kenya's supremacy with a commanding victory in 8:15.28, leading compatriot Mathew Kosgei (8:17.46) and Ethiopia's Hailu Ayalew (8:24.08) across the finish line.
Kenya's hopes now rest on Lemiso as he bids to tighten the country's grip on one of its most treasured events. "At the World U20, I am hoping to do my best and get the gold medal. I promise to do a great job," Lemiso said.
The teenager draws confidence from an impressive build-up to the global championships.
"Training has been good, and I feel confident heading to Eugene."
Lemiso arrives in Oregon carrying continental pedigree after his golden run at the 2025 African U18/U20 Championships in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
There, he struck gold in the boys' U18 2,000m steeplechase after clocking 5:32.24 ahead of compatriot Brian Ngetich (5:38.05) and Morocco's Reda Ouzzaouit (5:46.61). The 18-year-old has also enjoyed a superb start to the 2026 season.
He opened his campaign at the Kip Keino Classic on April 24, producing a strong runner-up finish in the U20 race in 8:46.78 behind Brian Kiptarus, who won in 8:46.02.
Lemiso then underlined his credentials at the World U20 trials on May 23, cruising to victory in 8:35.30 to book his ticket to Eugene.
The rising star revealed that two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi remains the driving force behind his ambitions. "I get my motivation from Ezekiel Kemboi. I want to achieve what he has been able to achieve in this event."
Lemiso will be joined in Eugene by Nicholas Kitum. Kitum also heads to the World U20 Championships with impressive continental credentials, having bagged silver at the 2025 African U20 Championships after clocking 8:42.08 in the 3,000m steeplechase behind compatriot Brian Kandie, who won the title in 8:33.52.
The youngster is equally confident of mounting a strong challenge for the podium. "I will push myself and try to come back home with a medal," he said.
