Ruto, Ethiopians face Mo Farah

Cyrus Ruto beats Davis Kiplagat to win men's 10,000m finals during the national trials at Nyayo stadium on June 23, 2017.PHOTO.DENNIS OKEYO

Kenya’s Cyrus Ruto, the national trials winner, faces a battle of his life as he takes on a classy line up in the 5,000m final tonight.

The move comes even as homeboy Mo Farah strives to win his 11th title at the worlds against strong challengers that include Ethiopia’s 2013 world youth 3000m champion Yomif Kejelcha.

It is also about Kenya’s bid to end 12-year gold drought in men’s 5,000m, which Benjamin Kipkoech Limo last won in Helsinki, Finland, in 2005.

Mo Farah heads to the stadium planning to put himself firmly in the first of those categories.

Since crossing the line second in the 10,000m at the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, the 34-year-old has won every outdoor title he’s contested over 5000m and 10,000m, a run of victories that has seen him secure a reputation as one of the greatest endurance runners of all time.

And in each of the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and the 2013 and 2015 World Championships, that has meant doubling up over the two longest track championship distances.

The 5000m, which is scheduled after the 10,000m, will see Farah hoping to take his second gold medal.

He has raced sparingly outdoors this year, taking victories over 3000m in Kingston and London and over 5000m in Eugene and 10,000m in Ostrava.