16 June 2023 | Athletics

Ugandan favourite Jacob Kiplimo missed first place at the Oslo Bislett Games men's 5000m after he crossed the tape alongside Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha in a photo finish.

Kiplimo was racing his first track event this year and registered a personal best of 12.41.73 – the fifth-fastest of all time.

The 22-year-old started the year on a high winning the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst and the New York Half Marathon.

During the race, Kiplimo waited to surge until the final bend but when Kejelcha and him dipped for the line like sprinters,  the former was given the decision by less than a hundredth of a second.

“I expected the finish to be like this, a fight until the end, but I am glad I got it,” said Kejelcha. “It was always my dream to win this event. Now, my next dream is Monaco, and then to become an Olympic champion one day.” Kiplimo on the other hand was proud of his show, especially the fact that he registered a personal best in track debut this year. "So close (0.003) to win in Oslo but very happy for the PB in my track debut this year and =WL =PB Bislett stadion you are amazing," he wrote on his social media. "The road to Budapest goes ahead." https://www.instagram.com/p/CthnXf9rvf_/  

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