Kenya’s Edmund Serem could only manage a sixth-place finish in the men’s 3000m steeplechase race at the Silesia Diamond League on Sunday, 23 August.Download our MozzartSport App For More NewsSerem, running alongside his elder brother Amos, was off the pace in the last 400m, falling behind the leading pack to cross the line in a time of 8:09.57.The 18-year-old, who was recently crowned Commonwealth Games champion in Glasgow, Scotland, had been up to fifth in the penultimate lap of the race, but could oddly not make gains after the bell, thus registering his worst-place finish of the year. ##NAJAVA_MECA_9907034##Having initially built up as a race that would see the two Serem brothers lead the charge, all that excitement was dampened at the starting line after it became apparent that Amos was just but a pacemaker.Lilian Odira urges shift in coaching mindset after success under female coachThe 23-year-old former U20 gold medalist led the pack through the first 2000m of the race, before stepping out.The bigger story was, however, at the front, where pre-race favorite Soufiane El Bakkali suffered his first defeat of the season, finishing second to Ethiopia’s Godana Gemechu, who clocked a meeting record and personal best time of 8:02.74.©Wanda Diamond League/XEl Bakkali, whose last defeat came in the final of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last year, led through the bell, but was unable to turn on in the final 200m, allowing the 20-year-old Godana to sweep past him before the final water-jump, streaking away to claim his first Diamond League victory.El Bakkali, visibly running on fumes, followed him behind in 8:04.61, with his Moroccan compatriot Ben Yazide Eddine closing out the top three places in a personal best time of 8:05.08.Odira set for yet another heavyweight showdown at Zurich Diamond LeagueThe defeat to El Bakkali soiled what had been another dominant season from the 30-year-old, who had taken wins in Rabat, Stockholm and Doha.In fourth position was Querinjean Ruben of Luxembourg, who timed a new national record time of 8:05.36, with Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu coming home fifth in a season best 8:06.65.
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