Kimeli eying World Championships podium

He has competed on the World Championships and Olympics final stage but fell short of a podium finish in both instances, now 5000m runner Nicholas Kimeli says his focus is on next year's World Championships. 

The global event will be held in the United States for the first time, with Eugene, Oregon hosting the extravaganza from 15 to 24 July 2022. 

During the 2019 World Championships, Kimeli finished sixth in his heat to qualify for the final in a time of 13:20.82. He finished eighth, clocking 13:05.27 in a final won by Ethiopian Muktar Edris in 12:58.85 as Selemon Barega and Mohammed Ahmed settled to silver and bronze respectively. 

"I have had a good season and my last race at the Kip Keino Classic I was exhausted and I was just out to have fun. I have taken a deserved rest before embarking on another season that is promising to be busy. 

I might begin my season with some cross country races in Europe around December. I am hoping to feature in the African meet if it will be held. As for track, we will have to wait for the Athletics Kenya (AK) calender so as to decide which meets I can take part in," said Kimeli after finishing second in 5000m to Jacob Krop at the Continental Tour in Nairobi. 

In 2020, despite the Covid-19 pandemic that ravenged the world, Kimeli was part of a historical race, pacing for Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei on his way to breaking the 10,000m world record in October 2020 in Valencia. 

The 23-year old had been instructed to lead Cheptegei for 5000 to 6000m and then drop out. After going through half way in 13:08, Kimeli dropped back but finished the race in 27:12.98. Cheptegei, meanwhile, went on to break the world record with 26:11.00.

Two months before the 10,000m race in Valencia, Kimeli had finished second to Cheptegei over 5000m in Monaco in a PB of 12:51.78 as the Ugandan star won in a world record of 12:35.36.

Along with his runner-up finishes to Cheptegei, Kimeli was victorious over 10,000m in Lieden, clocking a PB of 26:58.97, and over 5000m at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Nairobi, running 13:08.32 at altitude.

In 2021, he won the national Olympics trials to clinch a ticket to his first ever Summer Games. He was the lone Kenyan representative in the 5000m final and despite putting up a spirited fight for bronze, he was pipped for the lesser medal by Kenyan-turned American Paul Chelimo in a last ditch surge. 

In his post-race interview in Tokyo, the confident Kimeli, although disappointed that Chelimo had pushed him in the final lap to gain some advantage, promised to be on the podium of the World Championships or the Commonwealth Games in 2022. 

"My focus is on the World Championships. I will be racing on the road as that helps with the endurance required in 5000m which is increasingly getting fast but I believe I can run a sub 12 and medal in Eugene," he offered.