Copenhagen
Kenya’s Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang secured a hard-fought top-10 finish as Eritrea’s Dawit Seare produced a superb late surge to deny Jakob Ingebrigtsen and claim the men’s 5km title at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26 on Saturday (September 19).
In a blisteringly fast race where the East African powerhouse faced a rare podium lockout, Kipsang crossed the line in eighth place clocking 13:11. Earlier in the contest, Kenyan youngster Charles Kiboino injected serious tactical authority by running prominently at the front alongside Ethiopia's Addisu Yihune and the French pace-setters, before the tactical battle shifted into overdrive in the final stages.
The Eritrean winner – who won the African 5,000m title earlier this year – overtook Ingebrigtsen in the closing stages of a fiercely contested race, crossing the line in a national record of 12:56. Ingebrigtsen, who briefly looked to have made the decisive move, followed three seconds later in a Norwegian record of 12:59, while Seare’s teenage teammate Saymon Amanuel completed the podium in a PB of 13:00.
For Seare, who finished fourth at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga three years ago while still a teenager, victory completed his progression to the top of the global podium. He noted that he had been preparing for these championships for over two months.
He said he would now move to the USA to advance his running career there: “I am very, very happy because I have been preparing very well for the last two months for this Championships. I am African Champion in the five kilometres, which was part of my preparation. So, this is the result of my effort.”
He added that he was wary of the challenge posed by Ingebringsten: “I know Jakob (Ingebringsten) is a very strong athlete. Especially in the last kilometre it was difficult to compete with him, but at the end I won and I am very pleased about that. I will move to the US now, and I will compete there. So keep an eye on me.”
The early stages, though, belonged to France. Mediterranean Games 1,500m champion Flavien Szot darted to the front shortly after the start and immediately injected pace into the race. His teammate Jimmy Gressier, who had run a European record of 12:51 in Lille earlier this year, positioned himself just behind alongside Yihune and Kenya's Kiboino.
Ingebrigtsen, meanwhile, was happy to sit in the middle of the pack and monitor proceedings. Szot led through the opening kilometre in 2:38, with Gressier tucked behind him, and the two-kilometre point was reached in 5:20. Soon afterwards Szot stepped off the course, his early effort having effectively served as a pacemaking stint at the front.
Gressier then assumed control, with Yihune and Amanuel closest behind. The race was beginning to change by the approach to 3km. Ingebrigtsen had moved steadily through the field and was now about seventh, while Gressier surrendered the lead to Amanuel. Kiboino remained prominent for Team Kenya, as did Seare, who had kept himself within striking distance throughout.
As the leading group approached four kilometres, Ethiopia’s Mezgebu Sime made the next significant move, charging into the lead shortly before the checkpoint, which was reached in about 10:20. His advantage lasted barely a minute, as Seare came through to take command as the field prepared for the long finishing drive, while Ingebrigtsen had now worked his way into second.
The Norwegian was racing on his 26th birthday and seeking another global title just eight days after winning the 5000m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. Copenhagen was only his second road 5km and his third consecutive weekend of major championship racing.
With about 30 seconds of running remaining, Ingebrigtsen moved past Seare and into the lead. For a few moments, it appeared that the Olympic 5,000m champion had timed his move perfectly. But Seare was not finished. The Eritrean responded almost immediately, finding another gear as the line approached. He drew back alongside Ingebrigtsen before pulling clear in the final metres, breaking the tape in a national record of 12:56.
Ingebrigtsen held on for silver in 12:59, improving significantly on the 13:28 he had run in his only previous road 5km six years ago. Amanuel, still only 19, capped an excellent day for Eritrea by taking bronze in 13:00.
Dawit Seare of Eritrea (centre) celebrates after winning the world 5km title alongside silver medalist Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway (right) and teenage bronze medalist Saymon Amanuel of Eritrea (left) at the finish line of the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26 in Copenhagen. (Photo / Pool)
The Norwegian explained his race tactics: “I felt that it was so far to the finish line, and I hoped that the others would maybe freeze a little bit and they did. I thought I had to fight with all I had, and I think that I was a little bit too early going into the sprint.
“When there was two kilometres left, I felt I had a moment and I was in a good position. But then the others speeded up and I thought oh no. I must admit that my planning was a bit off. I really felt it was heavy today, and the others were stronger and faster, and they pushed earlier than expected.
“As a runner I of course think of the tactics and how to move up through the pack. That is one of the tasks you have as a runner how to maneuvre in the field. It is about making some decisions as a runner. When you don't have endless power, you need to prioritize in order to increase your chances for making a good result. I did have the feeling from the very start today, that this race would be extremely fast, so I'm very pleased to take the silver medal.”
Australia’s Ky Robinson finished just outside the medals, clocking an Oceanian record of 13:04. Uganda’s Keneth Kiprop matched Robinson’s 13:04 with a PB in fifth, followed by Yihune in 13:07 and Sime in a season’s best of 13:08. Kipsang safely held off Burundi's Egide Ntakarutimana to seal his top-eight spot for Kenya, with South Africa's Maxime Chaumeton rounding out the top 10.
Leading Men's 5km Results:
- Dawit Seare (Eritrea) – 12:56
- Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) – 12:59
- Saymon Amanuel (Eritrea) – 13:00
- Ky Robinson (Australia) – 13:04
- Keneth Kiprop (Uganda) – 13:04
- Addisu Yihune (Ethiopia) – 13:07
- Mezgebu Sime (Ethiopia) – 13:08
- Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang (Kenya) – 13:11
- Egide Ntakarutimana (Burundi) – 13:12
- Maxime Chaumeton (South Africa) – 13:13
(World Athletics and Agencies)
BELOW: Pictorial from Men’s Mile at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen on Saturday (September 19, 2016). (All Photos / World Athletics):
