by Justin Lagat
Today, we are crushing on @joshuacheptege1 who yesterday won the 5k @MeetingHerculis Monaco Run in 13:11.
Kudos Joshua for a great start #2021 pic.twitter.com/ZwjN2ced3f
— National Council of Sports -Uganda (@NCSUganda1) February 15, 2021
Justin Lagat sent in this piece on the Monaco 5k. He was excited about the quick running in Monaco and wonders how popular the 5k road race will become!
“Even though there was a lot of wind, I managed to run right on pace.”@Beasteeple cruises to 14:43 5km road world record* at @MonacoRun.
📸:@danvernonphoto @GlobalSportsCom
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) February 14, 2021
After watching the short and thrilling 5K road race in Monaco, one would easily wonder whether the 5Km distance on the roads would not become as competitive and as popular as the marathon in the near future. Will the distance become more comparable to the 100m on the track and the marathon comparable to the 10,000m?
The two eventual winners had executed the race in ways that are not common in the road running scenarios.
Within ten seconds into the race, Cheptegei was already on the lead. To many of the road running fans, it would have appeared like a big mistake on his part. But then, this was a relatively less popular event and perhaps one that front-running could work. After all, if it were a full marathon the runners would be at the 37km point with five km to go and we would already be seeing the prospective winners at that stage.
A steady pace by Cheptegei saw the leading pack rapidly reducing until three runners remained with about 1km to go. They were soon in a single file, Cheptegei leading with Bethwel Birgen in second and Davis Kiplangat in third place.
Cheptegei, who holds the 5000m, 10,000m and the 5K world records, crossed the finish line in 13:14. Birgen followed in 13:18 with Kiplangat close behind him.
Meanwhile, the cameras missed capturing Beatrice Chepkoech in the women’s race as she came in for a new world record.
There had been a lot of talk about her in the lead up to the race, but as the race progressed, the cameras mostly focused on Sweden’s Bahta Meraf and the viewers were left wondering whether Chepkoech, who had quickly broken away from fellow women runners at the start, had dropped out of the race.
The world 3000m steeplechase record holder finally appeared as she came for the finish line. She crossed it in 14:43 beating the previous world record held by Sifan Hassan by one second.
