Monaco masterclass fires up Koech's Commonwealth Games medal charge

The 2021 World Under-20 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist Simon Koech believes his commanding victory at the Monaco Diamond League was the perfect dress rehearsal as he fine-tunes his form for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, set to kick off next week.

The 22-year-old stamped his authority on the field at the Monaco meeting last Friday, producing a composed display to cruise to his first Diamond League victory of the season in 8:03.35.

Japan's Ryuji Miura finished second in 8:10.30, while compatriot and reigning world U20 champion Edmund Serem completed the podium in 8:11.15. Despite the searing conditions in Monaco, Koech said he had to dig deep to deliver the flawless performance. "Even though it was so hot, I tried my best to push and win the race," he said after the race.

The water and barriers specialist, however, admitted the closing stages tested his endurance as fatigue began to creep in.

"It was not hard work today, but the last two laps were somehow tough. The body started to feel some fatigue."

The victory also carried special significance, coming at the very venue where he first announced himself on the Diamond League circuit. "This place has a special meaning to me as it was the first place where I participated in the Diamond League back in 2023," he added.

It was in Monaco three years ago that Koech truly burst onto the global stage, producing a breakthrough performance to win in 8:04.19.

On that occasion, he finished comfortably ahead of compatriot Abraham Kibiwot (8:09.54) and Ethiopia's Abraham Sime (8:10.56).

Koech believes the latest performance has given him the perfect gauge of where his preparations stand ahead of the Commonwealth Games. "This result is good for me because I know where my body is at the moment. Now the main goal is the Commonwealth Games," he said.

In Glasgow, Koech will spearhead Kenya's steeplechase challenge alongside Serem and Leonard Bett. Even so, the rising distance star believes there is still another gear to unlock with continued training. "I know what I need to improve and to continue the work."

With Glasgow now firmly in his sights, Koech will be hoping to extend his impressive run of form in 2026. He began the season at the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour Gold on April 24, finishing second in 8:15.71 behind Ethiopia's Gemechu Godana, who won in 8:14.55.

Koech then opened his 2026 Diamond League campaign with an encouraging third-place finish in Rabat on May 31, clocking 7:59.44. Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali claimed victory in 7:57.25, with Germany's Frederik Ruppert taking second in 7:57.80.

His second Diamond League outing in Stockholm, however, proved more challenging as he finished sixth in 8:13.40. El Bakkali won that race in 8:10.40, with Serem (8:12.27) and Kibiwot (8:12.75) completing the podium. Koech bounced back in style at the Athletics Kenya Commonwealth Games trials on June 20, storming to victory in 8:16.59 to book his ticket to Glasgow.

Serem finished second in 8:20.37, while Bett sealed the final podium place in 8:24.13.