Kenyan trio of Nicholas Kimeli, Daniel Simiu and Jacob Krop are among top runners expected to battle for honours in the men’s 5000m race at the Brussels Diamond League meeting on Friday.
Brussels serves as the penultimate stage of the series where crucial points are at stake as athletes look forward to the season finale in Zurich on September 7-8.
Kimeli is the fastest in the field with a personal best time of 12:46.33 which he ran at the Diamond League meeting in Rome. He also competed in the 3,000m race in Monaco, where he placed fourth in a personal best time of 7:31.19.
Krop, a world 5000m silver medalist, and Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha are the second fastest in the field with personal bests of 12:46.79.
Kejelcha is ranked sixth in the 5000m in the current world rankings and is a world 10,000m silver medalist from 2019 World Championships in Doha. At the World Championships in Oregon, Kejelcha placed eighth in a time of 13:12.09.
Another Kenyan to watch in the race is Commonwealth 10,000m silver medalist Daniel Simiu, who is the third fastest in the field with a personal best time of 12:55.88.
Simiu finished third at the Kip-Keino Classic held at Moi Stadium Kasarani, Nairobi in May. In Oregon, Simiu placed 10th in the 5000m race in a time of 13:16.64.
Other Kenyans in the race are world 10,000m silver medallist Stanley Waithaka (13:05:21), Emmanuel Kiprop (13:08.42) and Cornelius Kemboi (13:04.31).
Burundi’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo (12:59.39), who won the 3000m race at the Monaco Diamond League, will also be battling for points as is USA’s William Kincaid (12:58.10).
