Glasgow: Quest to reclaim title from Uganda

World 5,000m bronze medallist Isahiah Kiplangat. [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO]

It is do-or-die when Kenyan charges battle to reclaim the men’s 5,000m title at Hampden Park stadium here in Glasgow, Scotland, tonight.

World 5,000m silver medalist Isaiah Kiplang’at, World Indoor champion Caleb Mwangangi and little-known Joseph Kitur are expected to give the rivals a run for their money in the men’s 5,000m finals at 21:55pm, and take back the title Moses Kipsiro grabbed in New Delhi.

This race will decide Kenya’s placing in the medals’ standing as it comes just hours after the men’s and women’s marathon, which is expected to put Kenya on the medal table.

“We expect a tactical race. But I really want to win at the Commonwealth Games,” said Kiplang’at. “In Moscow (World Championships) last year, I just wanted to have a podium finish, which I did. I will rectify a few tactical errors I made in Daegu Worlds and Moscow and, hopefully, come out victorious.”

good transition

Kiplang’at, a runner from Keringet, who basks in glory of an impressive 12:45 all-time record, has had a steady transition since graduating to senior ranks at the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

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“I want to run 12:43 and see if I can hit 12:37 in near future,” he said.

Mwangangi, who is also the Africa 1,500m champion, made his intentions clear by winning 10,000m final at the Athletics Kenya track and field meeting at Nyayo National Stadium in June and told his opponents to brace for a tough race.

“My body has low endurance and that is why I have been using the 10,000m race to gauge it,” Mwangangi, also a police officer, said “I can’t say that I will win the race, but the last 100 metres will be our decider. I am a world beater and I fear no one.”

Mwangangi won 3000m title at the World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland, last March and hopes to defend his Africa title in Marrakech, Morocco, next month.

Kitur, who comes from Kapkeben Village in Mosoriot in Nandi County, and who was a winner at the national trials, carries his 13:09.34 personal best record to the line up.

“I am in top shape and raring to go. I will give it my best but we should be cautious of Ugandans,” he said.