Brimin Kiprop Kipruto of Kenya won his first Olympic title in men's 3000-meter steeplechase to succeed Kenyan dominance in the combined event on Monday at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Kipruto, 23, finished in eight minutes and 10.34 seconds to win the champion which Kenyan runners have maintained since Los Angeles Games in 1984.

The Kenyan created his seasonal best result, however, he won by a tiny lead and nearly missed the gold medal in the close race. The silver medalist Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-B. ran in eight minutes and 10.49 seconds.

After the Los Angeles Games, Kenya had swept the top two medals in the race, Mekhissi-B. broke their straight winning at the Beijing Games by a personal best result.

Kenya's Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong won the bronze medal by a run of eight minutes and 11.01 seconds.

The defending champion, Kenya's Ezekiel Kembol, only achieved the seventh place.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2008)