Bathurst, Australia | INDEPENDENT | Jacob Kiplimo graduated from junior to senior World Cross Country Champion in style Saturday, despite a raging rain-storm that threatened the event in Bathurst, Australia.
The men’s senior race, the blue-ribbon event at the World Cross Country, was run 20 minutes early as Australia’s unpredicatable weather threatened to ruin the start of the 10km race.
The storm that started as the womens race concluded, seemed to have instead helped cool Kiplimo’s ‘engine’, as he strode to victory smiling, and even had time to wave to fans after shattering a world class field in the final 2 kilometers of the race.
“The course was really good,” Kiplimo told World Athletics.org. “Even with lots of wind, it was really intense. I think for me it was really good because there are lots of hills where we train in Uganda. It was not easy but I did my best.”
The fastest man on earth over the 10,000 and 5,000m and defending champion Joshua Cheptegei, continued his recovery from injury by settling for bronze, that ensured team Uganda secured a medal as well.
This, together with a strong showing from the senior women, placed Uganda 3rd overall with 1 gold and three bonze medals.
“I think it was a good race, especially coming back from injury,” Cheptegei told World Athletics.org. “I didn’t have the best preparation, but I’m grateful to come here and finish on the podium. Now I can be reassured I can go focus on the track soon, and especially the coming World Championships.”
Up to 453 elite runners from 48 teams including Uganda descended on Australia for the global event this weekend.
This is already being considered by experts as the toughest cross country event ever, and it showed when senior women favourite Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia collapsed in exhaustion 20 minutes from the finish. Kenyan Beatrice Chebet grabbed the opportunity to win the gold.
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