Summary
– Cheptegei, Kiplimo in Oslo Diamond League 5000m
– Preparing for Paris Olympics
– Facing tough competition from Ethiopia, Kenya, USA
Ugandan long-distance runners Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have confirmed their participation in the upcoming sixth Diamond League event, set to take place in Oslo, Norway this Thursday, May 30.
The duo will compete in the 5000m, marking their final track appearance before shifting their focus to the Paris Olympics in Hungary, scheduled for August 1-11, 2024.
Expected to face tough competition, Cheptegei and Kiplimo will contend with Ethiopia’s 10000m champion Selemon Barega, Yomif Kejelcha, Aregawe Berhe, as well as Kenya’s Martin Kimeli, Rop Kiprop, and Grand Fisher from the United States.
Both athletes are currently in Norway, fine-tuning their preparations under the guidance of their coaches. They are determined to deliver strong performances in the league.
Cheptegei, who recently secured third place in the Los Angeles continental tour- prefers racing in middle-scheduled diamond leagues to focus on major events such as the Olympics and World Championships.
Kiplimo, who finished second in the 2023 Oslo Diamond League– will have to maximize the importance of competing alongside top athletes from rival countries like Kenya and Ethiopia to assess his fitness levels.
Other Competitors
Kenya’s 2019 world champion Timothy Cheruiyot will take part in the Oslo Diamond League
Cheruiyot, will battle against Jakob Ingebrigtsen who started his season by finishing second in a thrilling mile in Eugene. The Norwegian will look to take advantage of home soil as he participates in the 1500m.
Ingebrigtsen won both the 1500m and 5000m Diamond League titles in2023 and will face his compatriot Narve Gilje Nordas, the world bronze medallist last year, and Azeddine Habz and Stewart McSweyn.
In the 800m, South Africa’s Sekgodiso, who has the chance to double her number of Diamond League meeting wins after victory in Marrakech, is a star entrant in that race.
The South African will face Noelie Yarigo as well as the world indoor champion Tsige Duguma, who was second in Los Angeles in a personal best of 1:57.56.
Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Jess Hull, who ran 8:37.18 to win in Sydney in March, races the 3000m against Caroline Nyaga and Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal.
In the 200m, Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, who won in Marrakech in 22.82, will hope to maintain a winning streak of 16 finals that dates back to June 2022. Having won Diamond Trophies in both the 100m and 200m last year, the sprinter is looking to build on that opener in Oslo.
Jackson will come up against USA’s Jenna Prandini, Anavia Battle and Brittany Brown, plus Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith and Daryll Neita, who won the 200m in Suzhou and 100m in Doha.
Finally, in the men’s 100m, Italy’s Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs will clash with Akani Simbine, who won in Suzhou, plus Marrakech winner Emmanuel Eseme and Abdul Hakim Sani Brown. Brandon Hicklin and Jeremiah Azu, who have both run sub-10.00 PBs this season, join them in the line-up, according to World Athletics.
Jacob Kiplimo Profie
Jacob Kiplimo (born 14 November 2000) is a Ugandan long-distance runner. He is the world record holder for the half marathon, which he set on 21 November 2021 in Lisbon with a time of 57:31. He is also the 2020 Tokyo Olympic 10,000 metres bronze medallist and won bronze in the event at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
Kiplimo earned gold medals for the 5000 metres and 10,000 m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He is the 2020 World Half Marathon champion. He won silver (at age 18) and gold medal at the 2019 and 2023 World Cross Country Championships respectively.
At age 15, he represented his country at the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the youngest ever Olympian for Uganda. He was the 2017 World Cross Country junior champion. Kiplimo is also the Ugandan record holder for the 3000 metres.
Personal bests
- 1500 metres – 3:50.24 (Arezzo 2016)
- 3000 metres – 7:26.64 (Rome 2020) NR
- 5000 metres – 12:41.73 (Oslo 2023)
- 10,000 metres – 26:33.93 (Ostrava 2021)
- 10,000 meters – 29:17 (Sydney 2023)
Road
- 10 kilometres – 27:31 (Manchester 2019)
- 15 kilometers – 41:05 (Zevenheuvelenloop 2023) World Record
- Half marathon – 57:31 (Lisbon 2021) World record
