Uganda's Kiplimo wins 5,000m gold at 2022 Commonwealth Games

BIRMINGHAM 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧

🥇  Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo once again applied the Midas touch to yet another outstanding performance in Birmingham, as he raced to victory in the men's 5,000m final to win a second individual gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Alexander Stadium's blue track may have thrown down the gauntlet to the 20 elite runners on the night, but 21-year-old Kiplimo proved he was up to the task with a characteristically tactical, well-timed production that saw him completely drain his reserves on the home straight to cross the line first in 13:08.08.

Kenyan duo Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli and Jacob Krop, whose steely partnership stretched their Ugandan challenger to his absolute limit, took silver and bronze, respectively.

It was a replay of the 10,000m final, where Kiplimo overcame another paired Kenyan resistance in the form of Daniel Simiu Ebenyo and Kibiwott Kandie.

Kiplimo, who was doing the 5,000m for the first time in 2022, becomes the fourth man to complete the double (10,000m and 5,000m) at the same Commonwealth Games, following in the footsteps of fellow Ugandans Joshua Cheptegei (2018) and Moses Kipsiro (2010).

Earlier in the evening, his other compatriot Halimah Nakaayi competed in the women's 800m final, where she finished last in an intense two-lap race, clocking 2:01.17.

That race was won by Kenya's Mary Moraa (1:57.07), with England's Keely Hodgkinson (1:57.40) and Scotland's Laura Muir (1:57.87) taking silver and bronze, respectively.

In a space of only a month, Kiplimo has won three global medals - one at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon last month, and now two at these Games.

In Oregon, he took 10,000m bronze, as his compatriot Cheptegei won gold in a Ugandan one-three. He now signs out of Birmingham with 10,000m gold and 5,000m gold.

Team Uganda now have in the bag five medals - including three gold - from these Games.

Victor Kiplangat (pictured above, centre) opened Uganda's medals campaign with a historic gold in the men's marathon, before Kiplimo added to the gloss with 10,000m gold.

Kiplimo beat Kenyans to gold in the 10,000m final

By the time female boxer Teddy Nakimuli bowed out at the semi-final stage of the women's light flyweight on Saturday after losing to Northern Ireland's Carly McNaul, she was already guaranteed a medal. In boxing, the two losing semi-finalists each get a bronze medal.

It is a historic bronze for Nakimuli, who is now the first Ugandan female boxer to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games.

On Friday night, Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai won bronze after a nasty fall on a hurdle in the women's 3,000m steeplechase final.

Peruth Chemutai took the women's 3,000m steeplechase bronze

Kiplimo has added to that growing medals cabinet with another sensational gold medal, as Uganda looks to wrap up yet another successful Commonwealth Games outing.

Jacob Kiplimo has had a fruitful outing in Birmingham

At the last edition on Australia's Gold Coast, Team Uganda walked away with six medals: Double gold by Cheptegei in 5,000m and 10,000m, 10,000m gold and bronze by Stella Chesang and Mercyline Chelangat, respectively, Solomon Mutai's marathon silver and Juma Miiro's bronze in boxing.

Meanwhile, four other Ugandans will be racing in track event finals on Sunday, the last day of the athletics programme.

Winnie Nanyondo will compete in the women's 1,500m final later at 9:20pm.

The athletes Nanyondo will pay closer attention to are Laura Muir (who took 800m bronze on Saturday) and Australia's Jessica Hull, who are the only ones among the 12 finalists to have raced under four minutes this season.

By the time Nanyondo competes, her compatriot Haron Adoli will have raced in the men's 400m final at 12:45pm.

The Ugandan may have the slowest season's best time (45.80) among the eight finalists, but the 27-year-old sprinter has shown that it is unwise to underestimate a challenger you are set to race alongside with.

The last Ugandans to participate on the night will be in the women's 5,000m final: 2018 10,000m champion Chesang and Sarah Chelangat. That race will be at 9:45pm.