BELGRADE, SERBIA, March 30 — With a powerful finish on a hot day in the capital city’s Friendship Park, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo stormed through the last of 5 laps to defend his World title, clocking 28:09 over the 10,025m course in a replay of his ’23 victory over Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi. Kenya, led by Benson Kiplangat in 3rd, captured the team crown, its second in a row.
The course was a loop of 1887m, with an extra length of 270m on the first lap to accommodate the start and a 320m add-on to the final lap for the finish. Temperatures in the low 80s (28C) made the going uncomfortable to any athletes unprepared for the heat. While normally a flat, easy loop, the course featured a variety of technical challenges put in by the organizers, including two “hills” in the form of bridges, a mud pit that was generously watered and quite sloppy by the time of this final race, and a hay maze that offered athletes the choice of weaving around the barriers or leaping over.
Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele led the 111-man field through the first two laps, while Kiplimo stayed buried in the front pack, which numbered around 25 at the end of the second loop. Aregawi was far back in 23rd, while Kiplangat ran close to Kiplimo.
On the third go-round, Japan-based Kenyan Gideon Rono made a break before the mud pit, building a 5-second lead by the time he passed the post. Running 2nd at that point was Uganda’s ’19 champion, Joshua Cheptegei, with Debele 3rd and Kiplimo 4th. Kiplimo moved up alongside Cheptegei to reel Rono in, but at the sound of the bell signaling the beginning of the final 2207m loop to the finish, there were still at least 10 in contention.
Kiplimo never relinquished the lead after catching Rono, running aggressively to forge his margin, even hurdling both of the hay barriers. Fast-closing Aregawi came up from well back, moving into 2nd with a kilometer left. However, Kiplimo’s lead was too big to overcome, and the Ugandan finished safely at the front in 28:09. Aregawi came closer than last year with his 28:12. Kiplangat’s 28:14 led his teammates in 4th (Nicholas Kipkorir 28:16), 5th (Samwel Chebolei 28:18) and 7th (national champ Sabastian Sawe in 28:31) to tally the 19 points to seal the Kenyan victory, win No. 26 since it first ascended to the top of the podium in ’86.
Said Kiplimo, “It actually feels more exciting to successfully defend my title than to win the first one. But it was also tougher. I came here expecting I could win again, but the field was really strong. The pace was fast, the guys kept pushing it and there was still a big group out in front. It wasn’t until the final 3 kilometers that I felt I needed to move to the front.
“It was a little tough running in the heat, but that wasn’t a major issue. I was hungry for medals after missing Budapest last year. I am back now. My goal this year is to do what Joshua Cheptegei did and win an Olympic gold. My main focus is the 10,000, but I’m not sure yet if I want to double.”
Teammate Cheptegei finished 6th (28:24), and Uganda totaled 31 to beat Ethiopia’s 40. Far back was Spain in 4th (99), ahead of Australia (106), Eritrea (113). The U.S. team scored 120, led by Anthony Rotich (22nd), followed by Emmanuel Bor (25th), Ahmed Muhumed (36th) and Christian Allen (37th).
WORLD XC MEN’S RESULTS
Teams: 1. Kenya 19; 2. Uganda 31; 3. Ethiopia 40; 4. Spain 99; 5. Australia 106; 6. Eritrea 113; 7. United States 120; 8. South Africa 141; 9. Great Britain 188; 10. Burundi 221; 11. Canada 228; 12. Japan 244; 13. Peru 310; 14. Singapore 360; 15. Fiji 411.
Individuals (10.025K): 1. Jacob Kiplimo (Uga) 28:09; 2. Berihu Aregawi (Eth) 28:12; 3. Benson Sigei (Ken) 28:14; 4. Nicholas Kipkorir (Ken) 28:16; 5. Samwel Chebolei (Ken) 28:18; 6. Joshua Cheptegei (Uga) 28:24; 7. Sabastian Sawe (Ken) 28:31; 8. Gideon Rono (Ken) 28:31; 9. Thierry Ndikumwenayo (Spa) 28:36; 10. Boki Diribi (Eth) 28:38;
11. Dan Kibet (Uga) 28:45; 12. Tadese Worku (Eth) 28:50; 13. Hosea Kiplangat (Uga) 28:50; 14. Martin Kiprotich (Uga) 28:56; 15. Abdulrezak Suleiman (Eri) 29:01; 16. Chimdesa Debele (Eth) 29:05; 17. Aaron Las Heras (Spa) 29:08; 18. Leonard Chemutai (Uga) 29:10; 19. Berehanu Wendim (Eth) 29:15; 20. Mehdi Frere (Fra) 29:16;
21. Bennet Seloy (SA) 29:20; 22. Anthony Rotich (US) 29:22; 23. Haftu Strintzos (Aus) 29:22; 24. Edward Marks (Aus) 29:22; 25. Emmanuel Bor (US) 29:37; 26. Getachew Masersha (Eth) 29:38; 27. Will Barnicoat (GB) 29:39; 28. Merhawi Mebrahtu (Eri) 29:40; 29. Liam Adams (Aus) 29:43; 30. Patrick Tiernan (Aus) 29:45;
31. Emilie Hafashimana (Bur) 29:47; 32. Awet Habte (Eri) 29:50; 33. Andries Sesedi (SA) 29:50; 34. Fernando Carro (Spa) 29:51; 35. Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse (Fra) 29:51; 36. Ahmed Muhumed (US) 29:53; 37. Christian Allen (US) 29:54; 38. Brhane Negasi Gebrekrstos (Eri) 29:57; 39. Miguel Baidal (Spa) 29:59; 40. Nadeel Wildschutt (SA) 30:04;
41. Philippe Morneau-Cartier (Can) 30:04; 42. Wellington Varevi (Zim) 30:07; 43. Gulveer Singh (Ind) 30:07; 44. Calum Johnson (GB) 30:07; 45. Kartik Kumar (Ind) 30:09; 46. Andre Waring (Aus) 30:10; 47. Chris Mhlanga (SA) 30:14; 48. Hiroto Fujimagari (Jpn) 30:15; 49. Tom Evans (GB) 30:16; 50. Hugh Armstrong (Ire) 30:18;
51. Zach Facioni (Aus) 30:20; 52. Anthony Camerieri (US) 30:21; 53. Rafael Vicente (Ecu) 30:22; 54. Célestine Ndikumana (Bur) 30:22; 55. Ryuto Igawa (Jpn) 30:23; 56. Keelan Kilrehill (Ire) 30:25; 57. Andrew Davies (Can) 30:27; 58. Reid Buchanan (US) 30:27; 59. Filmon Kibrom (Eri) 30:30; 60. Félicien Muhitira (Rwa) 30:34;
61. Nassim Hassaous (Spa) 30:41; 62. Mathews Leeto (SA) 30:43; 63. Thomas Fafard (Can) 30:44; 64. William Little (NZ) 30:44; 65. Lionel Nihimbazwe (Bur) 30:48; 66. Tomonori Yamaguchi (Jpn) 30:49; 67. Max Turek (Can) 30:49; 68. James Kingston (GB) 31:07; 69. Julio Chacon (Per) 31:12; 70. Ivo Balabanov (Bul) 31:16;
71. Jean Marie Bukuru (Bur) 31:20; 72. Aron Kifle (Eri) 31:21; 73. Patrick Nimubona (Bur) 31:22; 74. Scott Stirling (GB) 31:25; 75. Tomoya Ogikubo (Jpn) 31:28; 76. Ulises Martín (Per) 31:44; 77. César Gómez (Mex) 31:47; 78. Therence Bizoza (Bur) 32:00; 79. Emmanuel Reyes (Mex) 32:01; 80. Mike Tate (Can) 32:24. (111 started; 107 finished)
