Commonwealth Games 2022: Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo won gold n the men’s 10,000m final at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda. Courtesy: AP
HIGHLIGHTS
- Jacob Kiplimo continued Uganda’s unbeaten run since the CWG in 2006 at Melbourne
- Jacob Kiplimo finished the 10,000m final in 27 minutes, 9.19 seconds
- Jacob Kiplimo performed in the absence of Joshua Cheptegei
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo said that he desperately wanted to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games 2022. On Tuesday, August 2, Kiplimo won gold in the men’s 10,000m final at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. Moreover, the 21-year-old continued Uganda’s unbeaten run in the race since the CWG in 2006 at Melbourne.
Earlier, world champion Joshua Cheptegei confirmed that he wouldn’t be taking part in the CWG 2022 due to “illness”. Cheptegei had also backed Kiplimo to perform well at the CWG.
In the absence of the veteran, Kiplimo stepped up and performed to expectations. Kiplimo, who also won bronze in the Olympics and at the world level, had to work hard, especially against the Kenyan trio of Daniel Ebenyo, Kibiwott Kandie and Edward Zakayo Pingua.
However, the Young Turk upped his game and came up trumps. He also talked about performing well at the Olympics and world championships.
“I think for me winning this Commonwealth Games title was everything, the most important thing for me this season,” Kiplimo was quoted as saying.
“But I still have a lot of things to do in the future at the Olympics and world championships,” he stated.
“I was mentally quite flat after the World Championships. I am so proud of myself because it was so hard to come here,” Kennedy said.
Even as Ebenyo won the silver medal in the final, Kandie had to stay content with bronze. Kiplimo, born in Bukwo, completed the race in a record time of 27 minutes, 9.19 seconds.
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