NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 25 – The 2021 World Under-20 3000m steeplechase champion Amos Serem says winning the world title at this year’s World Championships in Budapest would drive him wild with joy.
The youngster said the thought of being called a world champion is one that lingers in his mind every day and night.
“It would be something beyond my wildest dreams. I would just be sitting back and pinching myself…going crazy and bursting with joy at the prospect of being called a world champion,” Serem said.
“I was champion at the junior level and to do so at the highest level would be for me a life well lived,” Serem added.
The 20-year-old has transitioned admirably from the junior level, building upon his World Under 20 title on home soil in 2021 to clinch bronze at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
Serem says there’s more to come from him in the new year as he strives to continue from where he left off in 2022.
“This year I want to run better than I even did during the national trials for the Oregon World Championships. I want to be the one who brings back our steeplechase title that we lost (to Moroccan Soufiane el Bakkali),” Serem said.
He began his track and field season with a runout at Saturday’s Athletics Kenya Track and Field Weekend meeting at Nyayo Stadium where he competed in the men’s 3000m steeplechase.
Commenting on the race, Serem admitted there is much more he needs to work on.
“Today I wanted to feel my body and see how much progress I have made. This is my first race this year and so I was not too preoccupied with winning but improving on my time. I am not so impressed with my performance here today but there is still room for improvement,” he said.
As a former junior, Serem’s word of advice to upcoming athletes is to give it their all in pursuit of talent.
“It requires hard work and not giving up. Not forgetting discipline because without it you cannot go anywhere regardless of the talent you have,” he said.
