Shock as Kenyan trio fail to make 5000m final in Rio
Britain's Mo Farah (left) leads the pack in round one of the men's 5000m at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 17, 2016. AFP PHOTO
What you need to know:
- World 5,000m silver medallist Caleb Mwangangi was shockingly knocked out after he finished sixth in 13:26.63 in a slow first semi-final.
- Charles Yosei Muneria, who finished second in 10,000m at the Kenyan trials but moved to 5,000m, settled a distant 12th in the same semi-final heat in 13:30.95.
The 2013 World 5,000m bronze medallist Isaiah Kiplangat also failed to qualify after he finished 12th in the second semi-final heat clocking 13:25.15.
Kenya settled for bronze medal in 5,000m at the 2012 London courtesy of Thomas Longosiwa.
There will be no Kenyan in the men’s 5,000m final for the first time at the Olympics since the 1960 Rome Games, after its athletes failed to qualify on Wednesday.
World 5,000m silver medallist Caleb Mwangangi, who was among favourites to reach the medal bracket, was shockingly knocked out after he finished sixth in 13:26.63 in a slow first semi-final.
Charles Yosei Muneria, who finished second in 10,000m at the Kenyan trials but moved to 5,000m, took a distant 12th in the same semi-final heat in 13:30.95.
The 2013 World 5,000m bronze medallist Isaiah Kiplangat also failed to qualify after he finished 12th in the second semi-final heat, clocking 13:25.15.
Kenya settled for bronze in 5,000m at the 2012 London courtesy of Thomas Longosiwa.
John Ngugi is the only Kenyan to have won the 5,000m Olympics title during the 1988 Seoul Games but three other Kenyans came close only to settle for silver medals.
They are Kipchoge Keino in 1968 Mexico, Paul Bitok at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta, and Eliud Kipchoge at 2008 Beijing, where Edwin Soi won bronze.
World 5,000m bronze medallist Hagos Gebrhiwet, who also won silver in 5,000m at the 2013 World Championships, won the first semi-final heat in 13:24.65, beating Kenyan-born Bahraini Albert Rop to second place in 13:24.95.
Olympic and World 5,000m champion Mohammed Farah from Great Britain settled for third in 13:25.25. Farah was followed by the 2014 World Under-20 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda in 13:25.70.
Kenyan-born Paul Chelimo from the USA won the second semi-final in 13:19.54. Ethiopians Muktar Edris and Dejen Gebremeskel claimed second and third places in 13:19.65 and 13:19.67 to storm the final due on Sunday at 4.30am Kenyan time.
Farah, who only five days earlier had won the 10,000m gold medal, was in his typical element, spending the first six laps at the back and letting his rivals set the pace. For company, he had Mwangangi while Muneria stuck ahead.
The three men gradually moved up front as the race progressed, with just booking their places in the finals on their mind.
Even with other notable names, such as Ethiopia’s Gebrhiwet and Gebremeskel, all in the mix, Farah remains the man to beat if his performance is anything to go by.
Only the top five finishers and the next five with the best times earned their places in the finals.
