Commonwealth 5000m silver medalist Nicholas Kimeli and 10000m silver medalist Daniel Simiu have punched tickets to the 2023 World Athletics Championships after fending off stiff competition from seasoned and upcoming athletes in the trials held at Nyayo National Stadium.
While Kimeli has a wild card by virtue of being the reigning 5000m Diamond League champion, Simiu desperately needed to squeeze himself into the top two so as to assure himself of running in the global event for the second time.
It will be interesting to see if Kimeli will double in Budapest following his victory in the 25-lap event as he finished ahead of the rest, punching the air in his signature celebration.
Kimeli timed 27:29.08 with Simiu clocked 27:30.05. Bernard Kibet finished third after crossing the line in 27:33.05.
Reacting to the win, Kimeli said there was no time to celebrate cruising to victory in the trials as there was huge task of plotting how to mine gold and silver in Budapest ahead of them.
“We are okay in endurance but we have to work on our final lap. We have to work on the speed that is required in the final kick. We have good chemistry with Simiu which will play a massive role in delivering medals in Budapest,” he said.
Simiu, who led for the better part of the race echoed Kimeli’s sentiments saying teamwork has proven as the secret to winning medals.
“We are friends with Kimeli as well as neighbours. I told him to work and assist me, separate men, from boys. We know good shapes win races but teamwork delivers medals,” he said.
There was all to watch for as soon as the gun went off as the men on the track exchanged leads hoping to punch the two available tickets and board the plane to Budapest.
National champions Kibiwott Kandie, former World U20 5000m champion Benson Kiplagat, the Japan-based Bernard Kibet and a host of athletes were all in the leading pack in the initial stages of the race.
The gradual injection of the pace claimed a number of contestants among them is Olympian Weldon Korir who faded off 13 minutes into the race, lagging a few metres off the leading pack.
Three athletes had earlier felt the heat of the breathtaking pace, leaving them with no option other than to concentrate on finishing the race in a decent time.
Those at Nyayo were treated to a three-horse race in the closing stages of the race as Kimeli, Simiu and Kibet broke from the rest, bidding to take the two qualification slots.
Experience played in favour of Kimeli and Simiu as the two unleashed a mighty kick in the last bend that claimed Kibet.
Kimeli outsprinted Simiu in the last fifty metres to carry the day with Kibet having to fight another day after settling for the third slot.
