Vincent Kipkemoi wins 10k race in Gabon as Mo Farah finishes seventh

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ATHLETICS Vincent Kipkemoi wins 10k race in Gabon as Mo Farah finishes seventh

Festus Chuma 15:07 - 08.04.2023

Despite Kipkemoi falling in the initial stages of the race, he managed to break from the leading pack at the 5km mark.

Vincent Kipkemoi won the Port-Gentil 10 km run in Gabon on Saturday while Britain's Mo Farah's attempt to break the world record was undone by warm weather and a blistering start to the race.

Kipkemoi won in a new personal best of 28 minutes and 11 seconds ahead of his compatriot Boniface Kibiwott (28:22) and Emmanuel Kiprop (28:29), who were in second and third positions, respectively.

Farah, 40,  was the top non-African in the race as he finished seventh in 30 minutes and 25 seconds.

He hoped to beat Rhonex Kipruto's world record of 26:24 set in Valencia, Spain, in 2020.

Farah had earlier indicated that she would be going for the record but would also use the race to prepare for the 2023 London Marathon set for Sunday, April 23.

Kenya's Cleophas Meyan finished fourth in a time of 28:36 and was closely followed by Ethiopia's Chimdesa Dembele (28:55), while Mose Kibet finished sixth ahead of Farah in time of 30:41.

In the women's category, it was also a clean sweep for Kenyans with Beatrice Chepkoech crossing the line in 32 minutes and 13 seconds.

Naomi Chepngeno came home second in 32 minutes and 38 seconds, while Sndrafelies Tuwei crossed the line at 32:37.

There was little wind, but it was warm on an idyllic sunny day in the Gabon capital.

In 2020, the Port Gentil 10k race was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it only returned this year under strict hygiene measures.

The famous road race is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race and was won in 2019 by Abdallah Mande of Uganda.

Kenyan Sheila Chelangat won the women's category, breaking the African 10km all-comers record.

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