TOKYO 2020: Wait for 10,000m Olympic gold continues as Kenyans finish 7th, 9th and 20th

The wait for Kenya to celebrate a gold medal in the Olympics 10000m race will stretch further after the trio of Rodgers Kwemoi, Rhonex Kipruto and Weldon Langat finished outside the medal bracket in the Tokyo 2020 final at the Olympic Stadium.

World 5000m silver medalist and Ethiopian Selemon Barega produced an epic kick to claim gold ahead of pre-race favorite and record holder Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda and his highly rated compatriot Jacob Kiplimo who settled for bronze.

The 21-year old clocked 27:43.22. holding off the pressure from Cheptegei who timed 27:43.63 and Kiplimo’s 27:43.88to become the second African athlete to win a medal in the ongoing games.

Barega’s strategy paid off after closing in on Ugandan pacesetter Stephen Kissa who led from gun to the sixth lap challenging him before resorting to the chasing pack.

Kissa who was ignored by the seasoned athletes was swallowed up by the pack at the half-way point with Kipruto taking over the control only for Cheptegei to surge forward and the rest of the pack to surge forward with less than two laps to the bell.

Canadian and Commonwealth 5000m silver medalist Mohammed Ahmed hit the front with less than 600m to go, but Barega took the lead at the bell and held to cross the line ahead of the two Ugandans.

Kwemoi who prior to the race had been tipped as a medal candidate finished a disappointing seventh at 27:50.56. The national cross country champion who plies his trade in Japan could not keep up the pace in the final lap and ended finishing behind the Canadian

Kipruto who doubles up as World 10000m bronze medalist placed ninth at 27:52.78 while Langat was 20th on 28:41.42.

World 1000m silver medalist Yomif Kejelcha who was primed to give Cheptegei a run for his money finished eighth on 27:52.03.