Tokyo—Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco solidified his status as a top contender at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships by dominating the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase heats with a commanding time of 8:26.99 on Saturday. The heats, held amid intense competition, saw a strong showing from East African and European athletes as the stakes rose ahead of the final.
The qualification process was a test of speed and endurance, with the first five finishers in each heat earning automatic spots in the final. Alongside El Bakkali, Morocco’s Salaheddine Ben Yazide closely followed with an 8:27.21 finish, while New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish seized third in 8:27.23. Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu and Lamecha Girma also advanced, highlighting the depth of talent present.
Results timetable from the heats:
| Position | Heat | Athlete | Country | Time | Qualifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Soufiane El Bakkali | MAR | 8:26.99 | Q |
| 2 | 2 | Salaheddine Ben Yazide | MAR | 8:27.21 | Q |
| 3 | 2 | Geordie Beamish | NZL | 8:27.23 | Q |
| 4 | 2 | Samuel Firewu | ETH | 8:27.54 | Q |
| 5 | 3 | Lamecha Girma | ETH | 8:27.79 | Q |
| 6 | 2 | Frederik Ruppert | GER | 8:27.83 | Q |
| 7 | 2 | Abraham Kibiwot | KEN | 8:27.84 | Q |
| 9 | 3 | Daniel Michalski | USA | 8:28.76 | Q |
| 11 | 3 | Ruben Querinjean | LUX | 8:29.42 | Q |
| 13 | 1 | Edmund Serem | KEN | 8:29.97 | Q |
Other notable qualifiers include Germany’s Frederik Ruppert and Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot, both posting strong times just behind the leaders. The tight finishes among the qualifiers underline the intensity expected in the final.
As the finalists prepare for the decisive race, anticipation is building for a thrilling conclusion to the men’s 3000m steeplechase, where world titles and medals will be fiercely contested.
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