Jacob Kiplimo on his way to winning at the Ugandan Cross Country Championships (© Uganda Athletes Forum)
In their first ever clash on home soil, world U20 cross-country champion Jacob Kiplimo defeated world 10,000m silver medallist Joshua Cheptegei at the Ugandan Cross Country Championships in Tororo on Saturday (16).
Kiplimo, still just 18 years of age, was tracked closely by double Commonwealth champion Cheptegei and the pair pulled away from the rest of the field with two laps remaining. But Kiplimo had an extra gear for the final kilometre and opened a gap on Cheptegei before going on to win comfortably in 28:57.
Cheptegei followed 11 seconds later, while Albert Chemutai finished third in 29:21, four seconds ahead of Thomas Ayeko. In a high-quality race, 2012 Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich finished just outside the top 10.
Kiplimo and Cheptegei, both touted as two of the most exciting distance-running talents, have lined up against each other on four previous occasions. Cheptegei won their first three encounters, but Kiplimo got the upper hand at the IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting in Seville last month, winning by a decisive margin of 16 seconds.
Despite still being young enough to defend his U20 title, Kiplimo will contest the senior men’s race at next month’s IAAF/Mikkeller World Cross Country Championships Aarhus 2019.
Stella Chesang was a comfortable winner of the senior women’s race. The Commonwealth 10,000m champion made up for her disappointing eighth-place finish last year and completed the 10km course in 33:31, finishing 18 seconds ahead of domestic rival Rachael Chebet.
Youth Olympic Games 3000m champion Sarah Chelangat and Hosea Kiplangat won the U20 women’s and men’s races respectively.
Leading results
Senior men (10km)
1 Jacob Kiplimo 28:57
2 Joshua Cheptegei 29:08
3 Albert Chemutai 29:21
4 Thomas Ayeko 29:25
5 Joel Ayeko 29:30
6 Maxwell Rotich 29:36
7 Moses Kibet 29:47
8 Victor Kiplangat 29:49
Senior women (10km)
1 Stella Chesang 33:31
2 Rachel Chebet 33:49
3 Esther Chebet 34:38
4 Doreen Chesang 34:59
5 Juliet Chekwel 35:13
6 Peruth Chemutai 35:27
7 Emily Chebet 35:48
8 Viola Chemos 35:52
U20 men (8km)
1 Hosea Kiplangat 23:31
2 Dan Chebet 23:42
3 Matthew Chepkurui 23:42
U20 women (6km)
1 Sarah Chelangat 20:41
2 Annet Chesang 20:50
3 Esther Chekwemoi 21:25
