Conseslus Kipruto, the pre-race favorite, took the 3000-meters steeplechase title on Wednesday, waving to the crowd down the back straight as he eased to victory on the final lap.
In a relatively fast race, with the pace controlled by Evan Jager for the majority of the time, Kipruto was never far off the lead and was just too strong on the final lap. There was a well-deserved silver medal for Jager, who held off the challenge of two-time champion Ezekiel Kemboi to finish in second place, in the only Athletics final of the morning session.
Hours after the race, Kemboi was disqualified for a lane infringement, meaning France's Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad took the bronze medal.
Kipruto goes straight to the front
Kipruto, who has dominated the Diamond League circuit this season, set out straight for the front when the race started, closely followed by Jager, two-time silver medalist Mekhissi-Benabbad, and Yemane Haileselassie
At around two minutes in, Kipruto and Jaeger pulled slightly away from the rest of the field, though Kemboi and Brimin Kipruto, the champion in Beijing eight years ago, quickly followed, whilst Jacob Araptany crashed out after falling into a barrier.
Jager takes charge
Around 1500 meters in, Jager eased himself into the lead, with Kemboi and Conseslus Kipruto closely behind him. America’s Hillary Bor got himself into fourth place, ahead of Brimin Kipruto who was falling behind.
The top three of Jager, Kemboi, and the eventual champion slowly increased their lead, and heading into the final lap the race to win a medal was virtually over; it was all about the order in which the American and the two Kenyans would finish.
Kipruto eases into the lead and takes the title
With little trouble, Kipruto took the lead at the bell and began to up the pace, quickly creating a gap between himself and Jager.
The American was seemingly falling a bit behind as Kemboi tried to chase down Kipruto and take the gold, though Kipruto held firm and extended his lead with just 200 meters to go.
Kipruto was so comfortably in front that he was able to wave to the crowd down the final 100 meters, and despite slowing down towards the end set a new Olympic record of 8:03.28. Further back, Jager found an extra bit of speed and went past Kemboi over the final barrier to secure himself an impressive silver medal, with the defending champion jogging over the line to seemingly take the bronze medal.
Mekhissi-Benabbad originally finished in fourth place, with Bor in eighth place and Donald Cabral in ninth.
Kenya has now taken every Olympic Men’s Steeplechase gold since 1968, whilst Jager became the first American since Brian Diemer in 1984 to win an Olympic medal in the event.
French appeal sees Kemboi disqualified
Hours after the final took place, it was announced that Kemboi had been disqualified for running outside of the track.
The successful appeal, launched by the French Athletics Fedaration, means that Mekhissi-Benabadd won a third consecutive Olympic medal.