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Kiplimo bags U20 World Championships bronze

The race was won by Kenyan Rodgers Kwemoi

IAAF World Junior Championship

Men 10000m

1 Rodgers Kwemoi (KEN) 27:25.23

2 Aron Kifle (ERI) 27:26.20

3 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 27:26.68

8 Martin Musau (UGA) 28:34.33

Women 3000m SC heat 1

1 Tigist Getnet (BRN)      9:54.65

2 Betty Kibet (KEN) 9:54.65

3 Agrie Belchew (ETH) 9:54.85

4 Peruth Chemutai (UGA) 9:54.85

Jacob Kiplimo bagged Uganda's first medal, a bronze, at the IAAF World U20 athletics championships taking place in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Though Uganda could not defend the gold won by Joshua Cheptegei in the last edition in Oregon, 15-year-old Kiplimo, whose personal best time was out of the top six fought hard to stay in the top pack of the race.

The race was won by Kenyan Rodgers Kwemoi, who posted a time of 27:25.23 with Eritrean Arof Kifle (27:26.60) following by Kiplimo 0.48 seconds later in what was a tight finish.

On a mild, breezy evening in Bydgoszcz, Kiplimo was not among the top runners, just keeping with them until the fifth last of the 25-lap race when he broke off to take the lead and increase the pace and surging forward.

The Kenyan and Eritrean though who had traded some pushes in the race surged forward whenever Kiplimo threatened to increase the pace.

With 400m to run, Kwemoi, who was in the lead sped off through the back straight in an effort to drop the two athletes behind.

Kiplimo could not hold on but he had already built a good cushion, leaving Kifle to chase for the gold, though he could not achieve it.

Kiplimo came home in a new personal best time before a duo of Ethiopians; Amedework Walelegn (28:00.14) and Gizachew Hailu (28:09.57) followed in pursuit.

In an earlier event on day one, Peruth Chemutai and Esther Chebet also kept Uganda's hope for another medal at the championships alive as they advanced from their heats.

The junior runners qualified from their respective events, with Chemutai waiting for the final of the women event on Thursday while Chebet advanced to the semi-final of the 800m girl's final on Wednesday evening.