Ugandan long distance runner Jacob Kiplimo won the men’s 3000m race at the Wanda Diamond League at Stadio Olympico in Rome, Italy on Thursday night.
Kiplimo who triumphed at the Continental Tour Gold meet (Golden Spike Meeting) in Ostrava, Czech Republic over a week ago emerged victor in Rome with a national record time of 7:26.64, also a Diamond League record, World Lead and a Personal Best.
The heroics of Kiplimo, a UWA – Uganda Wildlife Authority athlete attracted attention of various individuals in the country from politicians to those in sports corridors, and the like.
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen was pre race favorite by Kiplimo conquered the night.
The men’s 3000m race was one of 14 disciplines lined up in the shortened provisional calendar that has had several events rescheduled, and others cancelled as organisers continue to adapt the season in the face of the Covid-19 crisis.
Barely a month has passed since the Diamond League returned in earnest in Monaco, and the season is already almost over: there was Rome on Thursday, Doha next week, and that’s it until 2021.
And while the season isn’t as long as any of us wanted, I’ve never stopped taking for granted how fortunate we are to have any track & field at all.
Between rejiggering the schedule, overcoming travel restrictions, and implementing safety measures, it’s never been more complicated to hold a track meet.
