Sheila Chepkirui Breaks 10,000m Stadium Record in Stockholm
Sheila Chepkirui. Photo credit: Ikaika Sport
Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui ran a world-leading time and personal best of 30:45.81 at the Stockholm 10,000m event. Joan Chelimo was second and Eva Cheron came in third. In the men’s second place, Philemon Kiplimo posted 27:25.08, to finish within the qualifying standards.
The race was set up for runners striving for Olympic qualifying times. The qualification times were - 31:25 for women and 27:28 for men. An astounding total of eleven women ran the Olympic qualifying times. They were:- Sheila Chepkirui 30:45.81
- Joan Chelimo, 30:46.51
- Eva Cherono, 30:49.23
- Irine Cheptai, 30:51.39
- Daisy Cherotich, 30:54.46
- Dorcas Kimeli, 30:55.90
- Meraf Bahta, 31:08.05
- Vibian Chepkirui, 31:09.42
- Fancy Chemutai, 31:10.20
- Viola Cheptoo, 31:11.09
- Sarah Lahti, 31:11.12
Chepkirui set a new Stadium record, breaking the old one that was held by Ethiopia’s Meseret Defar.
Isaac Kimeli of Belgium won the men’s race also in an Olympic qualifying time of 27:22.70. Philemon Kiplimo was the second runner who also managed a qualifying time of 27:25.08. On the other hand, Weldon Langat failed to attain the Olympic time by clocking in at 27.28.05, just microseconds after the cut out.
The Kenyan athletes join 50 others who have so far attained the Tokyo Olympics qualifying standards in other events. Next step for Tokyo preparations for the Kenyan athletes is the national trials for the Olympics which will be held June 26 to 27 in Nairobi.