Africa-Press – Kenya. Commonwealth Games 5,000m silver medallist Nicholas Kimeli is not resting on the laurels following his victory in Zurich as he seeks to make Team Kenya to next year’s World Cross Country Championships next year in Bathurst, Australia.
Kimeli is fresh from winning the 5,000m at Zurich Diamond League, where he posted 12:59.05. The Kenyan beat South Sudan’s Domnic Lobalu to second place in 12:59.40 with USA’s Fisher Grant clocking 13:00.56 to finish third.
“This is my last competition of the season. However, I want to start preparing for next year. I am keen on World Cross Country Championships and I want to work towards that,” Kimeli said.
Another Kenyan Cornelius Kemboi finished a distant sixth in 13:09.38 as Jacob Krop failed to finish the race.
In Brussels, Krop won the race after running a world lead and personal best time of 12:45.71. He beat Grant (12:46.96) to second place while Kimeli settled for the third spot in 12:50.97.
Kimeli revealed he was not well prepared for the race but had a plan, which evidently worked out for him.
“I was not prepared for this race because I didn’t train seriously. I was struggling at first, so I decided to run at my pace and not stay with the fastest group. On the last few laps, I decided to chase them and kick for the final lap,” he said.
Meanwhile, world 5,000m silver medallist, Beatrice Chebet, says her win in Zurich has boosted her confidence in preparation for next year’s World Championships in Budapest.
Chebet won in 14:31.03 ahead of Margaret Kipkemboi who placed second in 14:31.52. “This win has given me psyche ahead of next year. I want to prepare for Budapest,” Chebet said.
“It has been a long season since the World Championships and I don’t have the words to describe my joy,” Chebet said.
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