Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo has broken the Commonwealth Games record in the 10,000m to bag Gold in Birmingham.
The brilliant race saw Kiplimo rocket past Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo towards the last corner to reach home in a record time of 27:09.19.
He breaks Joshua Cheptegei’s record of 27:19.62 he set in 2018 Gold Coast, who was then erasing Kenyan Wilberforce Talel’s earlier best in 2002 in Manchester.
It’s the second gold for Uganda after Victor Kiplangat’s triumph in the Men’s Marathon.
Ebenyo (27:11.26) and Kibiwott Kandie (27:20.34) settled for Silver and Bronze in that order.
Kiplimo keeps Uganda’s legacy at the 10,000m in Commonwealth Games arrive – It’s the fifth straight Gold for Uganda at the distance!
Cheptegei in 2018, Moses Kipsiro won it back to back in 2010 Delhi and 2014 Glasgow while Boniface Kiprop was triumphant in 2006 Melbourne.
He will hope to scoop his second gold on Saturday in the 5000m final.
Kiplimo Lives To the Billing
All eyes were on Kiplimo after Cheptegei pulled out of the games to have ample rest.
There were no Ethiopians who are renown long distance runners because the games are competed for by former British Colonies.
Canada’s Mohammad Ahmed who was second twice in 5000m and 10,000m behind Cheptegei in Gold Coast, did not compete as well.
And it had to be either Kiplimo or the three Kenyan trio of Kibiwott Kandie, Edward Zakayo Pingua and Daniel Simiu Ebenya.
Sam Atkin was bold to take an early lead but it was about time for the English who later failed to finish.
Kiplimo kept himself in fifth place with around 14 laps gone, and he was very alert as the Kenyans tried their cat and mouth games.
The Kenyans tried to exchanged leads, but Kiplimo never fell for the traps and ran behind their shoulders.
He then went ahead with five laps to go, and injected pace which burnt the whole field.
Ebenyo and Kandie stuck behind him, with the latter going ahead at the bell.
But Kiplimo looked comfortable and waited for the right time when he went through his gears. And when he went outpaced Ebenyo with around 146km to go, the medal was no colour but gold.
The time would have been quicker if he continued with his pace across the line but he took some seconds to celebrate just before he crossed the line.
It’s the latest achievement for Kiplimo who this year won Bronze at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, the same colour he clinched in the Tokyo Olympics.
He is the 2020 Half Marathon World Champion.
Earlier in the day on the track, Halimah Nakaayi came second best Kenya’s Mary Moraa in the first heat to progress to the Women’s 800m final due Saturday.
Jacent Nyamahunge came third in her heat to qualify for the Women’s 100m semis due Wednesday.
On what promises to be a busy Wednesday, Haron Adoli in the Men’s 400m heats, Shida Leni in the Women’s 400m, Tom Dradriga in 800m heats while the trio of Rachael Zena Chebet, Sarah Chelangat and Stella Chesang are in the Women’s 10,000m final.
