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A thrilling 5000m final at the IAAF U20 World Championships, Tampere 2018, won by Kenyan Edward Zakayo, would have been good enough to honor any Diamond League match. in terms of selection and show. The final was such that defending champion Selemon Barega of Ethiopia, considered one of the most watertight favorites through the championships, was completely eliminated in an all-powerful sprint for the medals in the last round
Barega The former Kenyan duo of Zakayo and Stanley Waithaka at the IAAF U18 World Championships in Nairobi and while Barega ran victorious over 3000m, Kenyans showed a lot of pace in the final stages of the race and may have influenced their tactics
Barega and his Ethiopian team-mate Telahun Haile were the fastest on the paper with 12: 55.58 and 13: 04.63 lifetime records respectively and they did one, in going through the first three kilometers in 2: 38.04, 5: 21.88 (2: 43.84) and then 8: 06.70 (2: 44.82) with Barega doing most of the pacemaker.
Kenyans were more than happy to be dictated in the early stages and did not seem unduly weakened by the rapid early rhythm. A top quintet consisting of reigning world champion U20 Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda started to settle in and was joined by Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen who took advantage of the slackening of the pace after starting off cautiously.
The race turned into a nervous and suspicious affair with six athletes still competing – and running two front-to-back in the bell tower. An arrival in the stands was planned, although the riders were riding with some leaving the track and others not.
The last lap was fast and physical, Zakayo making his way to the front with only 50 yards away. the finish line with his arms outstretched – and with the rhythm still to burn – in 13: 20.16 with Waithaka looting Ingebrigtsen for bronze, 13: 20.57 to 13: 20.78.
"Barega was the favorite, he was the guy to beat today," acknowledged the winner. "I knew I was in good shape and I raced well tactically, then the championships of Africa."
Kenya has already won the 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m at the men's championships with more chances to enrich its medal tomorrow, at the 3000m steeple-chase and the 800m final
By contrast, Ethiopia won only a bronze medal in the 10,000m and was completely excluded from the medals in the finals of the 1500m and the 5000m. Barega and Haile had to content themselves with the fourth (13: 21.16) and fifth (13: 23.24) respectively.
After winning a bronze medal in the 1500m final, Ingebrigtsen earned his second medal of the championships. . He also beat one of the biggest European Under-20 records, thus improving the mark of 39-year-old Steve Binns in 13: 27.04
"The experience was amazing. I'm in good shape and although it was a really tough race, it was really good to stay with them and win a medal, "said Ingebrigtsen.
With a win over Barega at his Active, Zakayo will be favorite for the medals at the African Championships in Assela, Nigeria next month.Ingebrigtsen will also face the seniors at the European Championships next month in Berlin where he will compete in the 1500m and 5000m. 19659002] Steven Mills for the IAAF
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