Kenya flops in men’s 5000m at Rio Olympics

Kenya’s hopes of earning medals in the men’s 5000m at the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympic Games suffered a major blow after Beijing World Championships silver medalist Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku and Moscow 2013 Worlds bronze medalist Isaiah Kiplangat Koech failed to qualify for Sunday’s finals.

Other compatriot Rio debutant, Charles Mneria, also missed the ticket after finishing heat one in twelfth position clocking in 13:30.95.

It is the first time the country will not be represented in the discipline finals since it started participating in the Olympics.

Ndiku’s miscalculation of his charge in the homestretch cost him as he finished sixth clocking 13:26.63.

Ethiopian Hagos Gedrhiwet, the heat winner, has been more prolific and successful, winning in Oslo and running his best time of 2016.

In heat 2, Kenyans continued to perform dismally as the only representative, Koech, crossed the line in 13:25.15 to finish in position twelve in a race that was won by USA’s Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo in 13:19.54.

Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris and 2012 London Silver medalist Dejen Gebremeskel settled in the second and third with 3:19.65 and 13:19.69 respectively. Gebremeskel also holds a bronze medal from the 2011 world championships.

Kenya’s elimination from the race means the unstoppable British Mohamed Farah will battle it out with the Ethiopians after the hero of the London 2012 Olympic Games qualified in 13:25.25.

Leading results

HEAT 1

1              2396       Hagos Gebrhiwet             Ethiopia                13:24.65

2              2175       Albert Kibichii Rop           Bahrain                 13:24.95

3              2452       Mohamed Farah              Britain                 13:25.25

4              3015       Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei Uganda               13:25.70

5              3085       Bernard Lagat                   USA                       13:26.02

6              2693       Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku Kenya                13:26.63

HEAT 2 

1              3057       Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo USA                     13:19.54

2              2393       Muktar Edris                    Ethiopia              13:19.65

3              2395       Dejen Gebremeskel       Ethiopia              13:19.67

4              2162       Birhanu Balew                 Bahrain                  13:19.83

5              2444       Andrew Butchart             Britain                  13:20.08

6              2188       Mohammed Ahmed       Canada                13:21.00

7              2896       Elroy Gelant                     Russia                    13:22.00

8              2343       Abrar Osman                   Eritria                     13:22.56

9              2048       Brett Robinson              Australia                 13:22.81

10           2825       David Torrence              Peru                        13:23.20