Top East African runners set for epic showdown at Oslo's Wanda Diamond League

Top East African runners set for epic showdown at Oslo's Wanda Diamond League

Festus Chuma 16:00 - 03.05.2024

Top Ugandan and Ethiopian runners to compete in the 5000m at Oslo's Wanda Diamond League on May 30th.

Oslo is set to host a historic clash in long-distance running as the world's elite from Uganda and Ethiopia gear up for a gripping 5000m race at the Wanda Diamond League on May 30th. 

The event promises an unforgettable spectacle featuring some of the sport's most revered figures.

Leading the charge is Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, the current world record holder with a stunning time of 12:35.36, achieved at the Monaco Diamond League in 2020. 

Cheptegei, who also clinched Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, aims to recapture that record-breaking form in Oslo. 

He will be accompanied by compatriot Jacob Kiplimo, the reigning 5000m Commonwealth champion and 10,000m Olympic bronze medalist, who seeks to add a second Diamond League victory to his resume.

However, the Ugandan duo faces stiff competition from a formidable Ethiopian contingent. 

Yomif Kejelcha, who holds the current world number one ranking, has a rich history in the Diamond League, having claimed his first Diamond Trophy at the tender age of 18 in 2015. 

With ten wins across various cities and a near miss for the title last year in Eugene, Kejelcha is a veteran with a hunger for victory.

Joining Kejelcha is Berihu Aregawi, the 2021 Wanda Diamond League champion renowned for his victory at the street event in Zurich. 

Alongside them is Hagos Gebrhiwet, a former champion who ousted Kejelcha in 2016, and Telahun Haile Bekele, who triumphed in Oslo two years ago with a time of 13:03.51.

The race also features international talents such as Guatemala's Luis Grijalva, Switzerland's Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu, and Norway’s own Henrik Ingebrigtsen, adding global flavor to the highly anticipated event.

The Oslo stands as a critical juncture for athletes vying for points to secure their places at the season’s climax: the two-day final in Brussels on September 13-14. 

Follow us on X (Twitter) for more updates

Tags: