Before Sunday, Ugandan runner Jacob Araptany was meant to feature in the 3000m steeplechase at the IAAF Diamond League calendar opener in Qatar city of Doha on Friday.
But unlike Benjamin Kiplagat, Olympian Araptany opted otherwise and connected straight to Japan for the Tokyo Grand Prix. And on Sunday, the 22-year-old started his season in winning style when he won the seven-and-a-half water-jump race in eight minutes and 20.84 seconds ahead of Kenyan junior runner Jacob Koech (8:22.55).
National record holder Kiplagat came third in 8:26.05. Araptany would have gold at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea town of Daegu but he squandered his lead in the final lap for World and Olympic champion Kenyan Ezekiel Kemboi to win.
Araptany took part in the 2012 Olympics and last year’s Championships in Moscow. SEIKO GOLDEN GRAND PRIX – TOKYO 3000m steeplechase results 1. Jacob Araptany (UGA) 8:20.84 2. John Kibet Koech (KEN) 8:22.55 3. Benjamin Kiplagat (UGA) 8:26.05