Kejelcha misses world 5km record by one second as he runs 12:50 in Lille

Posted by: Watch Athletics

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.

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