Nicholas Kimeli returns to Florence with 5000m title defense in mind

ATHLETICS Nicholas Kimeli returns to Florence with 5000m title defense in mind

Abigael Wafula 06:00 - 01.06.2023

During last year's event, Kimeli won the 5000m race after clocking a world lead of 12:46.33.

Defending champion Nicholas Kimeli will return to the Golden Gala, a Diamond League Meeting in Florence, Italy with the hope of retaining his 5000m crown despite facing a strong field.

During last year’s edition of the event, Kimeli floored bigwigs to clock a world lead of 12:46.33 and he will be hoping for a repeat of the same on Friday, June 2.

The Commonwealth Games 5000m silver medallist has not won any race since the season started and he will definitely be in pursuit of victory when he sets foot on track.

He will enjoy the company of world 5000m silver medallist Jacob Krop who will also be looking to improve on his second-place finish during last year’s edition of the event. Krop will be opening his track season at the event.

The duo will face opposition from Uganda’s world 10,000m and Olympic 5000m champion Joshua Cheptegei who will return to the track after last year’s World Championships in Oregon.

The 26-year-old opened his season with a third-place finish at the World Cross-country Championships in Bathurst. He then went for the New York City Half Marathon where he reigned supreme to finish second. 

An extraordinary challenge also awaits the duo, including an all-star Ethiopian quartet of Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega, 2021 Diamond League champion Berihu Aregawi, Yomif Kejelcha and Samuel Tefera.

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