By Leilah Bbaale
Long distances runners Oscar Chelimo and Joshua Cheptegei have progressed to the men’s 5000m final after finishing first and fourth in the semi-final heats of the distance at the ongoing world athletics championship in Oregon.
Oscar Chelimo produced a masterclass performance towards the finishing line to win a tight race ahead of fellow countryman and world record holder Joshua Cheptegei. He crossed the finishing line in 13 minutes 24 seconds and 24 microseconds to beat USA’s Grant Fisher who came second. In the third position was Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega, while Joshua Cheptegei finished fourth.
The two Ugandan athletes had a low start and kept in the last three positions during the first two laps. But as the race unfolded, Barega went in front prompting Cheptegei to ignite speed and grabbed the fifth position but still dropped back a few minutes later, although he kept the same pace.
Towards the last lap, the race became hotter with athletes battling for the top five spots. Cheptegei outsprinted the closest competitors to settle into the fifth position, while Chelimo remained two positions behind Cheptegei and USA’s Grant Fisher led the pack.
But with 300 meters to go, Chelimo who had lost the leading pack geared up and used the outside lane from behind to outsprint the first five athletes including his counterpart Joshua Cheptegei.
Before this race, Cheptegei, who has held the world record at 12:35.36 since 2020 had only raced once outdoors on the track in 2022, winning the promotional 5000m at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Eugene on May 27.
Meanwhile, before the 5000m semifinals, 800m world defending champion Halima Nakaayi started her quest to defend her title when she finished second in heat three to qualify for the semifinal of the distance. She crossed the line in 2:01.41 behind USA’s Athing MU who won the heat in 2 minutes and 01.30 seconds.
