Nicholas Kimeli concluded his season on a high note, clinching the bronze medal in the inaugural 5km race at the World Road Running Championships in Riga.
He finished third behind the Ethiopian duo of the race winner, Hagos Gebrhiwet, and second-placed Yomif Kejelcha.
Kimeli’s impressive performance allowed him to put aside the disappointment of missing a medal at the World Championships. He completed the 5km race with a time of 13:16, securing the bronze medal. Gebrhiwet, the race winner, clocked an astonishing 12:59, while Kejelcha finished second with a time of 13:02.
Throughout the race, Kimeli and his compatriot Cornelius Kemboi, who finished fifth, stayed close to the two Ethiopian frontrunners in the early stages. They completed the first kilometre in 2:41. However, as the race approached the 3km mark, Kejelcha and Gebrhiwet began to pull away from the pack.
By the time they passed the 4km mark in 10:29, Kimeli found himself in third place, with a 5-second gap to the leading Ethiopians. Meanwhile, Kemboi had already fallen behind.
With Gebrhiwet and Kejelcha clearly ahead and the gold and silver medals seemingly secured by Ethiopia, the race became a battle for the bronze medal.
With approximately 500 meters to go, Gebrhiwet made a decisive move on a hill, leaving Kejelcha unable to respond.
Gebrhiwet claimed victory in the race, with Kejelcha settling for second place. Nicholas Kimeli’s determined performance earned him the well-deserved bronze medal, capping off his season on a high note.
