8 minutes the barrier in Bislett steeplechase

Leading the attack on the Bislett record will be the World No. 1 Jairus Birech of Kenya. He was the dominant steeplechaser of 2014 with four of the best five times recorded last year and established an amazing personal best of 7:58.41 when winning the final of the Diamond League in Brussels last season.

However as always the most interesting competitor in the steeplechase is the flamboyant Kenyan Ezekiel Kemboi. Not only is he a dual Olympic Champion but also a three time World Champion and it is in this capacity where Kemboi has exhibited some extraordinary victory celebrations. Ezekiel Kemboi is a true competitor and tends to be at his peak when it matters most! But he will need to be in Oslo as the challenge of Jarius Birech is looking more formidable as he improves with every competition. Their recent “neck and neck” struggle in their Diamond League race in Eugene reflects the tension  that exists when the world’s best clash. With the reliable Haron Lagat setting a strong pace and supported by Clement Kemboi, the stage will be realistically set for a new stadium record!

One of the more interesting athletes making a return to Bislett stadium will be Conseslus Kipruto who is a previous winner of the ExxonMobil Bislett Games. The young Kenyan had a banner year in 2013 winning many events on the circuit including Diamond League meets in Shanghai and Eugene as well as Oslo before missing most of last year with injury. If he has recovered his 2013 form (a personal best of 8:01:16), then he too can challenge both the stadium record and 8 minutes.

Bislett fans will fondly remember the last 3000m Steeplechase World Record in the stadium when the great Swedish athlete Anders Gärderud stopped the clock at 8:10:4 for the distance in 1975 and if the current runners can approach the stadium record they can expect the same amount of support that inspired the Swede 40 years ago.