OREGON22: Herculean task for Kenya trio in quest for 5000m men's title

The fastest men's 5000m runners this year Nicholas Kimeli and Jacob Krop will be joined by the enterprising Daniel Simiu in an attempt to restore Kenya's glory in the distance at the World Athletics Championships. 

The three qualified for the final set for the final day of action Sunday 18:05 hrs (Monday 04:05 EAT) and have their work cut out against a loaded field of 15 that is dominated by Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia. 

Krop won the second heat early Friday morning, clocking 13:13.30 for an automatic slot while Kimeli and Simiu finished sixth in the first and second heats respectively to qualify on time. 

"It was a tough qualifying heat but my strategy was to race in front and avoid being boxed in and miss out on qualification. I had seen what had happened to Kimeli in the first heat and we tried to avoid that. 

We expect an even tougher competition in the final, given the athletes we are up against. This will be a fast and tactical race but I beleive we will do well," offered Krop who is the fastest this year. 

Kenya last won the title in 2005 when Benjamin Limo emerged victorious in Helsinki, Finland and the trio is keen to put an end to the wait. 

"We started a bit slow then picked up the pace midway. I did not make my calculations well and I got blocked in the middle of the pack at the tail-end of the race. I realised that was a mistake and I know I cannot repeat it in the final. 

In the final, we know it will be fast given the field but we have our tactics intact. It will be important to be in a position where we can sprint in the final lap and I am confident we will bring medals home," said the fourth-place finisher at the Olympic Games. 

The men’s 12-and-a-half-lap final has the potential to be the race of the championships as the final also features three gold medalists from the Olympics as well as championship medalists.

The Kenyans face off with Jakob Ingebrigtsen, fresh from bagging silver in the men's 1500m in the distance as well as Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega of Ethiopia and the already crowned 10,000m championship gold medalist Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei who os the 5000m Olympics gold medalist and world record holder in the distance.

Also on the field is defending champion Muktar Edris of Ethiopia, Canada’s Olympic silver medallist and world bronze medallist Moh Ahmed. 

Cheptegei, who has held the world record at 12:35.36 since 2020 has only raced once outdoors on the track in 2022, winning the promotional 5000m at the Wanda Diamond League Meeting in Eugene on 27 May in 12:57.99. 

The Ugandan will, however, be keen to make it a double, having already been crowned world champion in 10,000m. Not to be ignored is countryman Oscar Chelimo.