Philip Kipyeko is not worried that he will be going at it alone at the IAAF World Athletics Championships 5000m semi-final that takes place on Tuesday morning at the Luzhiniki Stadium.
Phillip Kipyeko
The 18-year old middle distance runner who has been training at Chirchir in the Kenya Highlands with the three marathoners, Stephen Kiprotich, Jackson Kiprop and Abraham Kiplimo, is ready to go a step further than other juniors, who have only come close to winning such big events.
He expected to have backing from Moses Kipsiro but the former Commonwealth champion pulled out after he was spiked during the 10000m final and felt that he could not push on.
Kipyeko is a product of Uganda’s athletics development programme, having gone through the youth ranks and represented the country at the 2011 World Youth championships, where he finished 7th before winning a bronze at the Commonwealth Youth Games 3000m event.
He also took part in the World Junior Championships where he finished 6th in the 2012 Punta Umbria event and he now wants to transform that success at senior level.
Boniface Kiprop finished in fourth position at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Benjamin Kiplagat finished 9th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games while Jacob Araptany finished fifth in the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, Korea. And it is this performance that Kipyeko will be looking to better.
“I will go out to try and fight to reach the final,” said Kipyeko, who even though Kipsiro would have been on the start list, would have been in separate heats.
IAAF World Athletics Championships
Men 5000m: Round 0ne (9.20 am)
By Norman Katende, The New Vision
