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BELGRADE (AFP) – Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo and Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet successfully defended their world cross country titles in Belgrade on Saturday.
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This is the fifth time in history that both senior men’s and women’s champions have retained their titles at the championships, and the first since Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba in 2005/06.
Kiplimo, 23, completed Uganda’s third consecutive world title. Joshua Cheptegei won the 2019 event, clocking a time of 28 minutes and 09 seconds over the 10,000km journey.
Kiplimo joins legends Bekele and Paul Tergat in defending his title, but he still has a long way to go to match their feat of five consecutive wins.
“In fact, it feels more exciting to successfully defend the title than to win the first title,” Kiplimo said.
“But it was also tougher. I came here expecting to win again, but the field was really strong.
“The course was good, but the obstacles were a little difficult. Running in the heat was a little tough, but it wasn’t a big problem.”
Kiplimo said the title was a great morale booster after missing the World Athletics Championships last year due to a hamstring injury.
“I missed Budapest last year so I was hungry for a medal,” said Kiplimo, the half marathon world record holder.
“I was doing well, but then I got injured and had to undergo treatment, but now I’m back.
“My goal this year is to do what Joshua Cheptegei did and win gold at the Olympics.
“My main focus is 10,000 meters, but I don’t know if I’ll double it yet.”
The Commonwealth 5,000m and 10,000m title holder finished three seconds behind Berif Aregawi of Ethiopia, who also won silver at Bathurst in Australia last year.
Benson Kiplangat of Kenya won the bronze medal by two seconds over Aregawi, but Cheptegei finished a disappointing sixth place, 15 seconds behind his countryman’s winning time.
Chebet became the first female runner since Ethiopia’s great Dibaba (2005/06) to lead Kenya to all medals and successfully defend her title.
The 24-year-old was only fourth in the Kenyan trials for the championship, but returned home with a three-second lead over Lilian Lengeluk.
Margaret Kipkemboi won the bronze medal, with Lengeruk, who drifted second, and two other Kenyan athletes filling the fourth and fifth places.
Chebet’s victory was Kenya’s ninth consecutive victory in the women’s race.
“We showed very strong teamwork and won the team title,” Chebet said.
“After the trials we train together and eat the same meals. We are a team and being together helped us achieve the best results here.”
“It’s not easy to go to the World Championships and defend your title, it’s a lot of pressure.
“My goal was to get on the podium.
“With about 500 meters left, I felt like I was getting stronger.”
© 2024 AFP
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