Kiplimo prioritizes world x-country over Doha

KAMPALA. Elite long-distance runners across the globe always face a choice test in biennial years.
It is either attempting the World Cross-country title or the World Athletics Championships’ 10000m and 5000m.
Now few charge for both honours, like Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele and Ugandan Moses Kipsiro back in time. Joshua Cheptegei did it 2017 and will attempt all gong again this year.
Jacob Kiplimo is opining different. “Cross-country is my priority,” the teenager told Daily Monitor in an earlier exchange.
“I like cross-country,” he emphasized. Kiplimo’s choice could be fueled by his rich profile.
On March 26, 2017, Kiplimo became the first Ugandan to win an individual gold at the World Cross-country Championships when he beat the field to the junior 8km title at Kololo.
Now aged 18, Kiplimo wants to attempt senior World x-country title come March 30 in Aarhus, Denmark.
His recent preparations were in Portugal and will on Sunday run in the IAAF Cross-country Permit at the Cross Internacional de Itálica in Seville, Spain. Kiplimo’s recent form tells his ambition.
He won the first three Permit races in Spanish towns of Burgos, Soria and Alcobendas in November before setting a new world 10km record at the 54th San Silvestre Vallecana road race on December 31.
He has a tougher field to beat on Sunday with his peer and defending champion Cheptegei in the fray.