5000m Heats- 12:45pm (EAT)
Ethiopian long distance runner Kenenisa Bekele is the reigning 5000m Olympic champion and holds the race’s world record. In Athens 2004, he took 5000m silver while at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing, Bekele took double gold including the 10000m. But owing to recent injuries and other short comings, the double gold winner at the 2009 Berlin World Athletics Championships failed to retain his 10000m title last Saturday. Instead, it was a memorable moment as Somali born Mo Farah won the 25 lap race, beating Ugandan Moses Kipsiro, Bekele and his brother Tariku to make Great Britain’s sixth gold on the night.
And Bekele’s absence will give the Ugandan a chance to take a perfect shot at the 12 and half lap race gold. Kipsiro, a 2010 double Commonwealth gold medalist finished fourth, behind Kenyan Edwin Cheruyiot Soi in 13:10.56 in Beijing and with him sighting an end to the track events; this is the perfect time to grab an Olympic medal. USA pair Bernard Lagat, a silver medalist at Berlin and Daegu World Athletics Championships and Farah training partner Rupp Galen are also in better shape to challenge Kipsiro. Galen settled for Saturday’s 10000m silver.
As the national record holder runs alongside Ethiopian duo Yenew Alamirew and Dejen Gebremeskel, he will be in company of fellow countryman Abraham Kiplimo. The final is due to take place on Saturday night at the Olympic Stadium.