Ethiopia’s Sime Abrham delivered a masterclass performance at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting on Saturday, overpowering a strong Kenyan duo to claim gold in the men’s 3000m steeplechase.
Abrham, who has been in scintillating form this season, crossed the finish line in 8:07.92, leaving Kenya’s Edmund Serem (8:08.68) and Simon Kipruto (8:09.05) to settle for silver and bronze, respectively.
The Ethiopian star controlled the race from the early stages, showcasing his tactical brilliance and endurance. Despite fierce competition from the Kenyan pair, Abrham maintained his composure in the final laps to secure a convincing victory.
Tunisia’s Mohamed Amin (8:10.55) finished fourth, while France’s Daru Nicolas-Marie (8:10.69) and Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu (8:11.18)—a former record holder—rounded out the top six.
The 2024 season has been a breakout year for Abrham. Earlier this year, he set a new personal best (PB) of 8:02.36 at the Meeting de Paris, where he held off a late surge from Kenya’s Amos Serem to win.
Meanwhile, Edmund Serem, the 17-year-old Kenyan prodigy, continues to impress. The 2024 World U20 champion (Lima, Peru) and 2024 African Championships silver medalist (Douala, Cameroon) has quickly established himself as a future star in the event. His performance in Shanghai adds to his growing reputation as one of steeplechase’s most exciting talents.
