Doha DL: Cheruiyot stuns experienced field to claim victory in second 5000m race
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 16.05.25. | 20:20
The 20-year-old will be happy with his performance considering that he specialises on the 1500m race
Kenya's Reynold Cheruiyot produced a sensational late kick to win the men's 5000m at the Wanda Diamond League in Doha on Friday night.
The 20-year-old, defied his inexperience in the race and surged past his rivals in the final stretch to clinch victory in a new personal best time of 13:16.40.
Cheruiyot was not deemed as one of the pre-race favourites considering that he specialises in the 1500m, but his tactics and energy distribution were spot on, saving the best for the last to claim victory in second appearance in the 12 and half laps.
The thunderous support from the fans came in handy for Cheruiyot, and his compatriots, as camera angles showed that Kenyans working and living in Doha were present in their thousands.
The 2022 World U20 1500m champion finished ahead of Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu and Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew in a personal best time.
Cheruiyot stopped the clock in 13:16.40, while Lobalu and Balew followed in 13:17.70 and 13:18.29 respectively.
Cheruiyot's new time means that he sliced nearly 20 seconds off his previous best.
The lead, in the early stages of the race, had frequently changed hands between Edwin Kurgat, Samuel Tefera, with Balew and Cheruiyot breathing hard behind their backs.
Cheruiyot held the card close to his chest and would unleash the decisive kick in the final 400 meters to seal the win.
What was was so refreshing, in the eyes of the Kenyans, was how he seamlessly wheeled after the final bend, opening a mighty gap between him and the rest.
It remains to be seen whether the Olympian will build on his win in Doha and ditch his speciality for the 5000m race.
In the men’s 800m, Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal secured third place in a season’s best of 1:43.37.
Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela stormed to victory with a world-leading 1:43.11, while American Bryce Hoppel claimed second in 1:43.26.
Masalela ran a tactical race, sitting behind the leaders before unleashing a powerful finishing sprint to take the win and register his best time.
