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Men's Steeplechase World Champs Preview: Can The Kenyans Sweep?
Kenyan Paul Kipsiele Koech has been unbeatable all year and is the only guy under 8:00 this year. The only problem is he ran terribly at the Kenyan Trials and didn't make the team. Koech's loss is Ezekiel Kemboi's gain. The 2004 Olympic champ has the 2nd fastest time of the year and won the Kenyan Trials. He is the favorite here and certainly looks to be the one to beat as he's got the 2nd fastest time of the year this year (8:05.50). Kemboi will be challenged by his compatriot Brimin Kipruto, just as he was in the 2004 Olympics. In 2004, Kipruto got silver and we think he'll get that again here but his 8:06.98 seasonal best is only the 4th fastest in the race. The two ahead of him on the yearly list are Sweden's Mustafa Mohamed (8:05.75) and fellow Kenyan Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong (8:06.66). Mateelong has no major honors to his name but a 3rd at the Kenyan trials normally means 3rd at the world champs. However, a Kenyan sweep is by no means a sure thing. Morocco's Brahim Taleb has run 8:07.02 and Bahrain's Tareq Mubarak Taher has run 8:07.12. France's Bouabdallah Tahri and Morocco's Hamid Ezzine have also broken 8:10 this year. LetsRun.com's Predicitons: Gold) Paul Kipsiele Koech Silver) Brimin Kipruto Bronze) Mustafa Mohamed
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Cross Country Spikes
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