President William Ruto has praised Kenya’s men’s 3,000m steeplechase team after they delivered a commanding podium sweep at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, earning the country’s first gold medal of the competition and once again proving Kenya’s dominance in one of its most successful athletics events.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the President congratulated Edmund Serem, Simon Kiprop Koech and Leonard Kipkemoi Bett for securing gold, silver and bronze respectively in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, describing the achievement as another proud moment for the country and a continuation of Kenya’s rich tradition in the race.
“A magnificent podium sweep by Kenya’s men’s 3,000m steeplechase team at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, is a proud moment for our nation,” Ruto said.
The Head of State praised Serem for leading the Kenyan charge to victory and extending the country’s remarkable record in the event.
“Congratulations to Edmund Serem for leading Kenya to a dominant victory and further cementing our unrivalled legacy in the event.”
Ruto also applauded Koech and Bett for ensuring Kenya occupied all three medal positions.
“Well done to Simon Kiprop Koech and Leonard Kipkemoi Bett for securing second and third places respectively. We are proud of your outstanding achievement and the honour you have brought to our nation,” he said.
The race saw 18-year-old Serem cross the finish line first in 8:18.23 to win gold. Koech followed closely in 8:18.59 to claim silver, while Bett completed the historic clean sweep after clocking 8:21.63 to take bronze.
The result earned Kenya its first gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and reinforced the country’s long-standing success in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, an event where Kenyan athletes have continued to dominate on the global stage for many years.
For Serem, the victory marked another major achievement in what has been a rapid rise through international athletics.
Competing at the Commonwealth Games for the first time, the young athlete has steadily built an impressive record over the past few seasons. He won gold at the 2023 African Under-18 Championships before claiming silver at the 2024 African Championships. Later that year, he added another major title after winning the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima.
His rise continued in 2025 when he secured bronze at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, performances that earned him the World Athletics Rising Star of the Year award.
Ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Serem had already established himself among the world’s leading steeplechasers after setting a personal best of 8:01.61 at the Rabat Diamond League in May 2026.
He also impressed across the Diamond League circuit with strong performances in Stockholm, Paris and Monaco, having finished second behind Koech at the Kenyan Championships before the Commonwealth Games.