by Justin Lagat
The men’s 5000m race developed into an exciting, dramatic, and quite controversial climax during the fifth stop of the Diamond League meeting circuit in Oslo. After some moderate 62-second laps, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo began to apply a little more pressure on the accelerator pedal at the front with five laps to go. He was soon left alone with two Ethiopian runners in the leading pack; Yomif Kejelcha and Tilahun Bekele.
photo by photo by Thomas Windestam for Diamond League AG
In the penultimate lap, Kejelcha overtook Kiplimo and increased the pace, and the two of them broke away. A long sprint for the finish began even before they could reach the bell as Kiplimo hung at the heels of Kejelcha, waiting for an opportunity to pass. That didn’t happen. On the home straight, Kiplimo moved to the outside lane and kicked harder, but Kejelcha held his ground. The two crossed the finish line in identical WL and Meeting records and personal best times of 12:41.73.
In the women’s 3000m race, Beatrice Chebet was quite satisfied with her progress towards a world championships title quest in Budapest after she won in a new meeting record, PB, and world-leading time of 8:25.01, leading a Kenyan 1-2-3 podium sweep. Lilian Kasait Rengeruk finished second in a PB of 8:25.90 ahead of Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi in 8:26.14.
“I am very thankful because I managed to run my PB, and I can see my progress. In my event, self-confidence and perseverance are very important,” Chebet said after the race.
The 2022 world silver medalist seemed to have judged her competition well and remained patient just behind the pacesetter, then allowed others to take the lead after the pacer dropped, but staying at a vantage position to be able to sprint to the lead in the last lap. She did exactly that to ease away with about 150m, appearing quite effortless against her nearest competitors.
“The race was not easy, but I had to believe in myself. As you know, we are preparing for the world championships. I will try my best and will run 5000m. My goal is to go there and bring a medal to my country. That is my main target now,” she said, adding that she was greatly motivated by Faith Kipyegon’s 5000m world record and thinking that “one day, one time, even me, I will do it.” For now, she is taking everything “step by step.”
In his peculiar front running style, Jacob Ingebrigtsen again showed that he is indeed in his own class this year after running an amazing area record, meeting record, and a world-leading time of 3:27.95 to win the men’s 1500m race. This feat happens just a few days after he set the world-best time for the men’s 2-mile race in Paris.
Mohamed Katir ran 3:28.89 to finish second, narrowly missing setting a new personal best time, unlike Yared Nguse behind him, who set a new American record and a personal best of 3:29.02.
The women’s Dream Mile was won by Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom. Appearing to risk everything by going out fast with two laps to go, the 17-year-old set a new world U20 record, a world lead, and a meeting record of 4:17.13. The previous record of 4:17.57 had been set in 1985 by Zola Budd of South Africa.
USA’s Ann McGee and Australia’s Jessica Hull were chasing down the youngster in the race’s closing stages. They never succeeded in catching her but were both rewarded with personal best times of 4:18.11 and 4:18.24, respectively. It was also an area record for Hull.
