Big guns falter as Kimeli punches World Championships ticket in 10000m
Nicholas Kimeli (left) celebrates after winning the men's 10,000m ahead of Daniel Simiu during the Kenyan trials for the World Championships at Nyayo Stadium on July 7, 2023.
What you need to know:
- Kimeli, who finished fourth in 5,000m at the World Championships last year, clocked 27 minutes and 20.83 seconds to win during the Kenyan trials at the Nyayo National Stadium.
- Kimeli edged Commonwealth Games 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Simiu as Bernard Kibet finished third.
Commonwealth Games 5,000 metres silver medallist Nicholas Kimeli’s qualification for the 2023 World Athletics Championships presents a headache for selectors as coaches in filling in the remaining members of men's 10,000 metres team.
On Friday, Kimeli clocked 27 minutes and 20.83 seconds to win the 25-lap race and seal a place in Team Kenya for the global track and field championship during national trials held at Nyayo National Stadium.
He beat 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000m silver medalist, Daniel Simiu (27:30.5) who followed in second place, and third-placed Bernard Kibet (27:33.5).
The 2023 World Athletics Championships will be held from August 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary.
Simiu is yet to attain the qualifying standard time of 27:10.00 set by World Athletics to compete in Budapest, but he can attain the qualification mark based on his superior ranking (he currently lies in 25th place).
But things could get worse for Simiu because countries around the world are still staging their qualifier championships. Athletes ranked 27th or better at close of qualifying period on July 30 will compete in Budapest.
Athletics Kenya’s selection criteria is that the first two athletes across the line at the national trials will qualify for Budapest, and a panel of selectors will decide the third member of the team.
The fate of Kibet, who finished third on Friday, now lies with AK’s panel of selectors.
He attained the qualifying standard in finishing second at the 299th Nippon Sport Science University Long Distance Competition 10km in 26:55.04 in October last year.
World Half Marathon Championships silver medalist, Kibiwott Kandie, who finished fourth in 27:47.3 on Friday, also presents another selection headache challenge to selectors.
Kandie, the national 10,000m champion, has attained the qualifying standard by virtue of finishing fourth at the World Cross Country Championships in February, and coming second at Adizero Road to Records 10km in 26:53.
In winning the 2022 Brasov Running Festival 10km race in Romania in 26:51 as well as in finishing 13th at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships, Kimeli has qualified to compete in Budapest.
The top 15 athletes from the World Cross Country Championships qualify to be selected for Budapest.
Men’s 10,000m team will be named on Saturday as Kenya hopes to recapture the world title it last won in 2001 through Charles Kamathi.
“The 10,000m has been a tough race for Kenya in the world for the last 22 years but we are promising to do our best. This could be our year," Kimeli, who will compete in the 5,000m final on Saturday, said.
On strategy for beating world champion, Joshua Cheptegei, Kimeli said: “Teamwork is key to everything. We shall sit and plan.”
