Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo
28 May 2011
Kampala — Moses Kipsiro continued his below-par start to the Samsung Diamond League with a 10th place finish in the 5000m race at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy on Thursday night.
Coming off an unimpressive seventh place finish in the 3000m in Qatar a fortnight ago, Kipsiro paid the price for an extremely slow start. The celebrated Ugandan athlete was already languishing closer to the back in the 15-man race and only recovered to clock 13 minutes, nine seconds and 17 micro-seconds.
There was a desperate kick towards it was a too late as Ethiopian Imane Merga had already taken the tape first in 12 minutes, 54 seconds and 21 micro-seconds inside the packed stadium. Merga clocked a world leading time this year to hold off a spirited charge from Kenyan Isaiah Koech – a world youth champion from 2009. Vincent Chepkok – in third – was among five Kenyans in the top nine places whereas Ethiopians took the other four positions.
For now, Kipsiro will seek quick answers to year that is yet to deliver any major success with the World Championships just months away. Matching his long distance double gold performance from the Commonwealth Games in India is going to be very tough.
Persistent injuries
Kipsiro has persistently suffered injuries to his knees that hampered his performance at the World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain. If he needs consolation, Merga is not the man to turn to. “The race went exactly as I wanted with a not very fast start but a strong finish” said Merga now looking towards the summer’s World Championships.
“Of course I am motivated and can fight for the World medals.” World and Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele is yet to make his season debut with injuries curtailing for the past two years but the quality of the field should still bother Kipsiro. The lanky Koech, only 17, gave the crowd lots to cheer when he got involved in a tussle with Merga for the final lap with the lead changing three times before the latter won.
Results – 5000m
I. Merga (ETH) 12.54.21
I. Koech (KEN) 12.54.59
V. Chepkok (KEN) 12.55.29
D. Gebremeskel (ETH) 12.55.89
S. Sihine (ETH) 12.57.86
M. Kiptoo (KEN) 12.59.91
L. Rotich (KEN) 13.00.02
A. Kuma (ETH) 13.00.15
T. Longosiwa (KEN) 13.06.62
M. Kipsiro (UGA) 13.09.17
AllAfrica – All the Time
Originally posted here:
Uganda: Rusty Kipsiro Fails to Impress