Image copyright: Getty Images
Until now, Uganda is still coming to terms with the fact that the nation has two bigwigs in the long-distance running area: Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo.
Cheptegei may not need an introduction but here’s a reminder on Kiplimo; he’s the reigning world half-marathon champion and boasts of four championship medals, two in junior ranks.
Kiplimo also has run the fastest time ever by a teenager over 3000m and behind Cheptegei’s 5000m and 10000m world records, the 20-year-old has the second-fastest times by a Ugandan there.
He sealed that mark last week when he easily floored the field at the 60th Ostrava Golden Spike Meeting in the Czech Republic.
Kiplimo produced a personal best and world lead time of 26 minutes and 33.93 seconds for the seventh-fastest time ever over a 25-lap race.
In the process, he also beat the qualifying grade of 27:28.00 to book a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics.
“It was nice, the training was perfect,” Kiplimo said after winning in Ostrava. Kiplimo however announced that he will compete over the double in Tokyo, just like Cheptegei.
“I think I am going to first sit together with my coach. But to me, I think I will run double.”
But he has focused on a particular race when he makes his second appearance at the Olympics. “My focus is the 10000m,” he stated.
OSTRAVA GOLDEN SPIKE
MEN’S 10000M RESULT
1 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 26:33.93
2 Birhanu Balew (BAH) 27:07.49
3 Iliass Aouani (ITA) 27:45.81
6 Abdallah Mande (UGA) 28:20.91
KIPLIMO AT A GLANCE
Date of birth: November 14, 2000
Major events: 5000m, 10000m
Coach: Iacorpo Brasi
Personal Bests: 7:26.64 (3000m), 12:48.63 (5000m), 26:33.93 (10000m)
Manager: Federico Rosa
Management: Rosa Associati
KIPLIMO AT MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
2020 World Half-Marathon Champs: 1st (Men’s 21km)
2019 World Cross-country: 2nd (Senior Men’s 10km)
2018 World Jnr Champs: 2nd (10000m), 6th (5000m)
2018 Commonwealth Games: 4th (10000m)
2017 London World Champs: 22nd (10000m Heats)
2016 Rio Olympics: 26th (5000m Heats)
2016 World Jnr Champs: 3rd (10000m)
Join Betway now & enjoy betting on 100’s of markets with the most competitive odds on offer
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions follow Betway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Download the Betway App.
This writer is a global broadcaster and as well a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and sports presenter with Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune