Kejelcha misses world 5km record by one second as he runs 12:50 in Lille
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On Sunday, Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha was only one second away from breaking the world 5km record in Lille, French.
Keyelcha scared his compatriot Berihu Aregawi's world record of 12:49 after he ran a stunning 12:50 to win the 5k race at the Semi-Marathon de Lille road running event. The two-time world indoor champion in the 3000m improved his personal best of 12:53 when winning a 5k road race in Herzogenaurach last year.
A group of Ethiopians Kejelcha, Telahun Haile Bekele and Yasin Haji, and Jacob Krop from Kenya set an early pace. They went through the first kilometer in 2:32. Passing the 3km in 7 minutes and 40 seconds, Kejelcha had gained a seven-second lead over Bekele, Tesfaye Kidanu and Reynold Kipkorir.
Kejelcha restarted to push away in the final kilometers in a pursuit to break the world record; however, he crossed the line at 12:50. Kenya's Kipkorir took second in 13:04, while Bekele ran 13:07 to take third place.
In the women's 5km race, Caroline Nyaga and Abebe dueled for victory. Nyaga just beat world steeplechase bronze medallist Abebe, as both crossed the line in 14:35.
In other races, Gemechu Dida won the men's 10km race in 27:12 while Dorcas Kimeli took the women's race in 30:48. Patrick Mosin claimed the half marathon in 59:31 and two-time world cross country champion Emily Chebet won the women's half marathon division in 67:52.
