Kiplimo wins 5,000m at the Ostrava Golden Spike Championship

Inspired by Joshua Cheptegei's 5,000m world record performance in Paris a couple of weeks ago, Jacob Kiplimo defied fitness doubts to win the 5,000m at the 59th Ostrava Golden Spike in the Czech Republic.

The Ugandan youthful athlete built on his 10km win recorded at the Simplyhealthy Great Manchester Run last year with some good powerful sprinting to shock race favourite Selemon Barega.

He won in a meet record time of 12:48:63. It was an incredible recovery from Kiplimo, who looked gone on halfway.

In Manchester, Kiplimo hit the front early and never looked back as he came home in a time of 27:31 - the fourth-fastest time for 10km on the roads last year.

However, in Ostrava, Kiplimo had to find his way to the front from third place in style, closing the gap with leader Barega before outsprinting him in the final 50m.

The World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting earlier scheduled for May and postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic attracted some of the biggest names in the world athletics.

Before the race, Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) president Dominic Otuchet had predicted a good race for Kiplimo at the Mestsky Stadium.

"Kiplimo has been training in Kwen and Kapchorwa; I know he had an injury after the Manchester run, but that was last year. He recovered well from the injury and I expect him to perform well," Otuchet said before the race.

"I know he is an athlete that can spring surprises when at his best. He doesn't fear competition- though his best competition is the longer 10000m race, I know he will go for it and I expect him to perform well," Otuchet stated.

And indeed, Kiplimo proved him right.

Kiplimo drew inspiration from World Championship record holder Joshua Cheptegei who smashed the 5000m record that had stood for 16 years, running the 12.5 laps of the Louis II stadium in a time of 12:35.36 a few weeks back.

Elsewhere, his teammate Winnie Nanyondo underperformed as she finished 9th  in the 1,500m race won by Faith Kipyegon.  Kipyegon who is unbeaten this season crossed the line in a new Meet Record of 3:5005.

Nanyondo was fresh from competing in the Diamond League where she crossed the finish line in 8th with a season's best of 2:36.54 in the 800m race.