Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali won his second straight gold in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase on Wednesday in a race where world record holder, Ethiopian Lamecha Girma fell in the closing stages.
El Bakkali surged to the win in 8:06.05 as American Kenneth Rooks took silver in 8:06.41, with Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot holding on for bronze in 8:06.47.
His teammate Mohamed Tindouft held a decisive pace as he pushed to the front as he cleared the second to last water jump.
El Bakkali emerged from his position in the pack and made a decisive move shortly after the bell and locked in on the Girma, who broke ahead toward the final straightaway.
The two were locked in a sprint after El Bakkali tracked down rooks when Girma hit the final barrier and landed hard on the track. El Bakkali took the win as Girma stayed on the track motionless.
Girma was removed from the track on a stretcher and medical staff placed a brace on his neck. He was later taken to a hospital.
El Bakkali is the first repeat winner in the 3,000m steeplechase since Finland’s Volmari Iso-Hollo in 1932 and 1936.
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