S. GitahiBudapest 23: Simiu delivers first medal for Kenya after scooping silver in 10000m
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 20.08.23. | 20:24
Aregawi came in fourth in 27:55.71
Kenya secured its first medal in the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary as Daniel Ebenyo Simiu produced a fine performance, dipping in late to finish second in the men's 10000m finals on Sunday night.
It was a hattrick of world titles however for Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei as he raced clear in the last 600m of the highly intense race, putting up a seasonal best time of 27:51.42.
Olympic games champion Selemon Barega was third, finishing 0.12 seconds behind Simiu's time of 27:52.72.
With the win, Cheptegei joined the Ethiopian duo of Haile Gebreselassie and Kenenisa Bekele and Britain's Mo Farah in winning three successive 10000m titles.
Recap.
This year's RAK Half Marathon champion Benard Kibet seemed to take matters in his own hands (legs) early on into the race as after the opening 2800m splits dictated by Uganda's Joel Ayeko, turned on the afterburners and began to gain some separation.
His advantage wasn't going to stay for long however, as the world leader Berihu Aregawi led a chasing park of 10 back and past him, even as the one time leader Ayeko retired from the field seemingly due to fatigue.
With four laps to go, there was a pack of eight athletes going for the win, and just as Barega began to show intent with 800m to go, the 2019 and 2022 world champion responded, dropping the Kenyan pair of Kibet and Nicholas Kipkorir - setting up an exciting grandstand finish.
A three horse race eventually turned to Cheptegei sprinting away for the win, and as Barega teetered towards the finish line -probably thinking that his silver medal was all but secured - Simiu kicked on the backstraight, pipping the Ethiopian at the end to add to his World Championships silver medal last year.
Kibet came in fifth with a time of 27:56.27, with trials winner Kipkorir clocking 28:03.38 in eighth place.
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