WXC Belgrade 24: Jacob Kiplimo defends title as Benson Kiplangat wins bronze

Just as Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet won the second straight title in the Women’s Senior race, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, defending senior men’s champion and world half marathon record-holder, won the men's race in Belgrade, clocking at 28:09. Kenya’s Benson Kiplangat finished third (28:14).

In a very interesting and dynamic race, a couple of athletes were in the lead throughout the race, but when it mattered the most, it was Kiplimo and Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi who increased the tempo and the speed and took over. Kenya’s Gideon Rono was in the lead at one point in the second lap, but eventually fell into eighth place.

Chimdessa Debele was on the lead from the start and increased the lead in the second lap to at least 30 meters ahead of second-placed Mehdi Frere from France. By the second lap, everybody was close again, as Hosea Kiplangat was second, just ahead of Gideon Kipkertich Rono. The Kenyan took over soon afterwards and created a gap of around 10 meters which he increased coming into the last round. But Uganda’s runners really pushed hard and eventually, Jacob Kiplimo took over. And then, a silver-winning athlete from Bathurst last year Aregawi made a great push and came to the second place where he was challenged heavily by Benson Kiplangat, who unfortunately was unable to move into the second place with only two seconds behind. Kipkorir and Masai finished fourth and fifth in the race.