As always, at the Oslo Diamond League, the athletes leave some impressive names behind them on their way to top finishes and fast times.  

On Thursday, June 15, most fields in Oslo produced mouth-gaping performances, but the most impressive was the 5000m category where Jacob Kiplimo featured. 

In his Diamond League debut of the season, world half marathon champion and half marathon record holder, Jacob Kiplimo plagued into a victorious photo finish with Ethiopia’s Yofim Kejelcha. 

A great race saw a shoulder-to-shoulder strong finish from the two supremely talented athletes, but at the final stage, Kejelcha managed to lunge ahead of Kiplimo by a mere fraction after a timely dip. 

The sixth fastest time ever

They both finished in 12:41.73, going joint the sixth fastest time ever for the men's 5,000m. 

The only athletes to have gone faster are Ugandan record holder Joshua Cheptegei, Ethiopian legends Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie, and Kenya's Daniel Komen.

With the entry cap standing at 13mins, 07seconds, Kiplimo’s Oslo’s finishing time was just enough to help Kiplimo secure his place in the 5000m field at the forthcoming Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships in August.   

Fast-finishing Kiplimo told New Vision shortly after the race that, “I think I ran my best tonight and I am really happy with that”. 

The same race had another huge Personal Record (PR) for Haile Telahun Bekele who sealed the clock at 12:46. 21.

Ugandans impress

Besides the men's 5000m race, more Ugandans impressed in other categories at the Oslo Diamond League. 

In the Dream Mile women's slot, fast-rising long-distance cum middle-range runner Janat Chemusto stunningly ran her personal best after stopping the clock at 4mins, 20secs, 04 microseconds.

In her immediate post-race thought, Janat said: “It was a good race, I went for it and I dug in at the end.” 

Despite that good posting in her career, Chemusto, who has finished within the medal bracket in six consecutive races both nationally and internationally, placed ninth.  

“Today being my last competitive build-up race to Budapest 2023 World Champs, it was about finishing in the best manner possible to help my coach and myself see what else needs to be worked on.”  

Talking of her coach, the Dutchman, Addy Ruiter was satisfied by the performance of his lanky keenly watched runner.  

“This race was much better than the last two she competed in [Paris 1 Mile and FBK Games where she won silver and bronze respectively],” Ruiter said.  

“It is good that she is getting the experience to run at this level. Next year, she will reap from her hard work.”  

Winnie Nanyondo brilliantly pocketed her seasonal best after finishing just ahead of Chemusto after 4mins, 20secs and 03 microseconds.  

The national record holder in 1500m will be thrilled to see how much momentum her form is gaining ahead of Budapest, despite placing eighth.  

In the same category, Ethiopia’s Haylom Birke produced a world-lead act of 4:17.13, to clinch gold in the star-studded category while Ann Cory McGee of the United States took home silver posting 4:18.11.  

Australia’s Jessicca Hull scooped the bronze medal after clocking 4:18.24.

Meanwhile, the national record holder in the 5000m women's category, Sarah Chelangat, finished sixth in her category.

Overall, it was a respectable race by Chelangat who posted a strong finish last week in Paris to wipe her own four-year-old national record of 15:00.06.  

In the French capital, the incredible Chelangat posted 14mins, 50secs and 93 microseconds after dusting up the 12-and-half-race.