L. MathekaKiplimo pulls out of the world championships
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 12.08.23. | 09:34
In his absence and that of reigning silver medalist, Kenya's Stanley Waithaka Mburu who did not make the team to Hungary, Cheptegei remains the favourite alongsidethe Kenyan and Ethiopia’s contigent.
Half Marathon world record-holder Jacob Kiplimo has pulled out of the World Athletics Championships set for 19 to 27 August in Budapest.
Kiplimo had been confirmed for the 10,000m and 5,000m distance at the 2023 event where he was expected to race alongside defending champion and countryman Joshua Cheptegei.
🇺🇬 Uganda Athletics Federation announces the withdrawal of Jacob Kiplimo from World Championships due to injury‼️ pic.twitter.com/Occsf3j654
— Track Spice 🌶️ (@trackspice) August 11, 2023
The reigning bronze medalist's absence was announced on Friday by the Uganda Athletics Federation, revealing that the Olympics bronze medalist had suffered an injury during his speed work training.
"Unfortunately I have to withdraw from the world championships in Budapest starting on 19 August.
On 1st August I got an injury during a speedwork session. Together with my team, coach, management, Federation and the physio we tried everything possible to manage and be ready for my races in Hungary," wrote the Commonwealth Games 10000m champion.
The World Cross Country champion says that after almost two weeks of treatments and medical consultations, he was still not able to train and run 100%.
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"I could not be able to fight for what I trained for the whole year. Budapest was the main goal of 2023 and renouncing my participation is very sad for me, but this is the sport.
I thank my staff to have tried whatever was possible to make it. I wish all my Ugandan teammates and all the athletes attending the championships all the best(sic)," the statement further reads.
The Federation said that the athlete had sustained an acute injury to the right hamstring and needed a few more weeks to recover.
In his absence and that of reigning silver medalist, Kenya's Stanley Waithaka Mburu who did not make the team to Hungary, Cheptegei remains the favourite. He will, however, face stiff competition from Kenya and Ethiopia.
Kenya's contingent in the two events is led by Nicholas Kimeli who will be chasing a double with the shorter distance boosted by silver medalist Jacob Krop who finished behind Jakob Ingebrigtsen in Oregon last year.
World Cross Country junior champion Ishmael Kipkurui and Cornelius Kemboi complete Kenya's list.
In 10000m, Kimeli will be joined by Commonwealth Games silver medalists Daniel Simui and Benard Kibet.
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