Teenage long distance runner Jacob Kiplimo was an utterly dominant force during the 2019 Simply Health Great Manchester Run on Sunday as he finished top of the podium.
The World Cross Country silver medalist looked in complete control throughout his impressive performance as he posted the fourth fastest time in the 10 kilometer races this year, clocking in at 27:31 ahead of Italian Eyob Faniel (28:24) and 2016 European 10,000m champion Antonio Abadia (28:39).
Kiplimo was first joined by British Nick Goolab as the pair set the pace early on in the race. But he sailed away by the halfway mark of the race, clocking in at 13:45 at which point he held a 25 second advantage.
The gap kept on growing as the race progressed with Goolab, who was the winner in the 10km race at Brighton falling off pace. The Italian Eyob Faniel inherited second place but also failed to catch up on the Ugandan as he finished 53 seconds off.
Goolab who finished fourth overall later admitted that his main mistake was trying to keep up pace with Kiplimo and he paid dearly for his early attempts.
The 18-year-old now looks likely to set his sights on the 10,000m in Doha and it will be intriguing to see how this young talent develops over the coming months.
In the women’s category, the reigning 5000m world champion Kenya’s Hellen Obiri clocked 31:23 to win the women version of the Run. Ethiopian Ruti Aga clocked in at 31:44 to claim second ahead of another Kenyan Edna Kiplagat who clocked 32:34
Obiri has won the Kenyan Cross Country Championships, the world cross country title before storming to 3000m victory at the recent Doha Diamond League.
Men:
Winner: Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) – 27:31
Runners up: Faniel Eyob (Italy) – 28:24
2nd Runners up: Antonio Abadia (Spain) – 28:39
Women:
Winner: Hellen Obiri (Kenya) – 31:23
1st Runners up: Ruti Aga (Ethiopia) – 31:44
2nd Runners up: Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) – 32:34
