By Spy Uganda
Kenyans Nicholas Kimeli clinched silver while Jacob Krop earned bronze as Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo beat their opposition again, bagging the Commonwealth Games 5,000m title in Birmingham on Saturday night.
Kiplimo also beat Kenyan opposition to clinch the 10,000m title earlier this week, and now flies back to Kampala as a double Commonwealth Games champion.
The Kenyan duo had employed formidable teamwork in the race, but they were beaten by Kiplimo in the final dash with a sprint finish.
He edged them out 10 metres to the finish line, clinching the title in 13:08.08 in his first 5,000m race of the season. Kimeli was second in 13:08.19 while Krop earned bronze in 13:08.48.
With five laps to go, the Kenyan trip of Kimeli, Krop and Cornelius Kemboi took charge of the race as they sought an early dominance. With four to go, Kimeli moved up top and signalled Krop to follow in his tail, with Kemboi remaining third.
With three to go, Kemboi was dropped and Kiplimo joined the leading duo in third and the gap between the first and chasing group began to grow.
At the bell, Kimeli pressed down the gas injecting an addition of pace and Krop was right behind him, watching out for Kiplimo’s run from the outside.
At the home stretch, it was now every man for himself and Kiplimo used the opportunity to move to the outside and injected some pace of his own. They were side by side with Kimeli, eyes gauged out, each digging deep into their energy reserves.
At the end, it was Kiplimo who would have the best finishing kick as he completed his double in Birmingham.
