Ugandan Kiplimo claims 10000M gold as Kenya falter again
Kenya’s wait for a first gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games continued when Danel Simiyu was beaten by Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo on the homestretch in the final of the 10000 metres on Tuesday evening.
A beautifully timed run by the Ugandan Kiplimo ensured that Uganda retained gold in a time of 27:09.19. Simiu posted a personal best time of 27:11.26 to claim bronze as Kibiwott Kandie took bronze in 27.20.34 also a PB.
The final attracted only ten entrants with local boy Sam Atkin unable to finish the race having led for the first 2000 metres. Atkin exchanged the lead with South Africa’s Adriaan Wildschutt(27.41.04) but Kiplimo, Kandie, Simiu and Edward Zakayo produced a high pace that was clearly too fast for the other six athletes.
Halfway through the race, Zakayo, former world junior champion showed glimpses of what made him the world champion in Tampere, Finland but he could not hold onto the lead for long as he quickly faded out of the race, dropping to fourth in the latter stages of the race.
Kibiwott Kandie who many had touted for gold also faded out in the last 800 metres and it remained a battle between Kiplimo and Simiu. The Ugandan who for long has been in the shadow of fellow countryman Joshua Cheptegei timed his run well in the last 500 metres and his pace was way too fast for Simiu and he raced to post a Games Record, ensuring that the title remains in Uganda.
