Nairobi — Ever since Amos Biwott won Kenya's first steeplechase gold in Mexico City Olympics in 1968, local athletes have ruled the water and hurdle event with an iron fist.

That reign, is expected to continue on Friday when World Champion Ezekiel Kemboi, silver medallist Richard Mateelong and veteran Abraham Cherono (brother of Saif Saeed Shaheen of Qatar, the world record holder), line up at the third day of the Senior Africa Athletics Championship at Nyayo National Stadium.

Both Kemboi and Mateelong eye the race with different targets. Kemboi wants to make the team to Split City Croatia in September for the World Cup in Athletics. Only the top two athletes will make the Africa team.

Mateelong, on the other hand, wants to be the first Kenyan to defend the steeplechase in the championships 31 year history.

"I want to be the first to break that record. It has been easy for us to win, but the inability of a Kenyan to retain the title tells you that every budding talent is as good as the known ones," said Mateelong.

In Addis Ababa, he led a 1-2-3 sweep for Kenya clocking 8:31.68 to edge out compatriots Michael Kipyego 8:32.94 and Willy Komen 8:41.98.

The champion says the aim to win all the medals on offer but the Olympics bronze medallist is alive to the fact; the rivals are catching up fast.

"The competition is becoming harder by the day and many young runners especially from Morocco, Tunisia and Ethiopia are emerging," said Mateelong.

Ethiopia has Roba Gary Chubeta, Nahom Mesfen and Legease Lamisso Oyota while Morocco will rely on Chakir Boujattaoui and Abdelatif Chemlal (8:15.63) a bronze medallist in Brazzaville in 2004. Others are Gervais Hakizimana of Rwanda, Edwin Molepo (South Africa), Idriss Yousif (Sudan) and Amor Ben Yahia of Tunisia.

Uganda's Benjamin Kiplagat, a for former World Junior silver medallist, ran a national record time in Lausanne in June of 8:03.81, stands out as one of the potential spoilers in the Kenya race.

He was fourth in Paris IAAF Diamond League meeting clocking 8:04.48 in a race won by Kenyan Brimin Kipruto in 8:00.90. Kemboi was third in a season best time of 8:03.79.