Silver, Bronze for Kenya as Mo Farah tips Kipsiro to retain ‘Club’ 10,000m title

Moses Kipsiro of Uganda edges clear to claim 10,000m victory ©Getty Images

It was a night when Uganda’s combative spirit against Kenyan rekindled as Moses Kipsiro tactically retained 10,000m title at Hampden Park Stadium.

Bett, who won the 2008 IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland, sprinted to the tape and celebrated raising arms as Kipsiro bent forward to dip inside the lane and make all the difference.

Kipsiro, who trains at the Pace Sports Management Camp in Kaptagat that’s run by British kingmaker Ricky Simms based at Teddington in UK, clinched the gold in 27.56.11. Bett settled for silver in 27:56.14 as Canada’s Levi (27:56.23) won bronze.

Peter Kirui, who is remembered for pace setting Patrick Makau to marathon world record in 2011, will led the laps alongside Bett and Charles Cheruiyot as Kipsiro kept close tabs.

The three were expected to serve Uganda and Australia an adequate dose to put out their fire and there were high expectations for podium sweep when the trio battled Kipsirio, who failed to retain the 5,000m title on Sunday night.

Bett, who has never made the national team since winning gold medal at the IAAF World Juniors in Poland in 2008, said he will rectify the mistake at the Africa Championships in Morocco.

“We will revenge on the Ethiopians. We have a good strategy in place for them and we will allow them to use us as their pacesetters,” said Bett.

“It was not my day. I think it’s just a matter of time before I prove my worth,” said Bett, a father of one.

But Kirui, who comes from Kaptulwo Village in Bomet County, said: “I always react slowly when front running and I had never paced that way. I realized Kipsiro had saved energy during the 5,000m competition. I will now focus on New York Marathon after the Africa Championships.”

Kipsiro, who runs the Elgon Training Camp in Kampala and manages athletes Uganda: “I multi task training and managing athletes. But I decided to train with Mo Farah here in UK preparing for the games. When I lost the 5,000m title, I just asked God to help me in 10,000m.”

“Ricky Simms our manager advised me to train Mo Farah in London for one month. We know Kenyans have a poor 100m finishing kick and I just sharpened mine in London since they have a good track for speed work. But Kenyans believe in endurance and that’s Ethiopians beat them in the last lap,” Kipsiro told FeverPitch in an exclusive interview in Kalenjin language on Friday night.

Kirui, who lives in Kericho, said he had no problem with the erratic weather conditions as he trained in similar conditions in Columbia for one month. He is managed by under Zane Branson of Czech Republic and makes his debut at the Commonwealth Games.