Jacob Krop to kickstart outdoor track season at Diamond League Meeting in Florence

ATHLETICS Jacob Krop to kickstart outdoor track season at Diamond League Meeting in Florence

Abigael Wafula 05:23 - 17.05.2023

Krop will enjoy the company of compatriot Nicholas Kipkorir who has not recorded a win in any of his races as well.

World 5000m silver medallist Jacob Krop is set to kickstart his outdoor track season at the Diamond League Meeting in Florence on Friday, June 2.

Krop commenced his season with a fifth-place finish at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja before finishing third over the 3000m at the Indoor Meeting in Lievin, France. He then finished fourth in a 5km road race in Lille.

He will be looking for his first win of the season but the stiff competition that awaits him might deny him a chance for the highly coveted gong.

Krop will enjoy the company of compatriot Nicholas Kipkorir who has not recorded a win in any of his races as well.

Kipkorir opened his season at the World Cross-country Championships in Bathurst, Australia where he finished 13th in the senior men’s race. The 24-year-old then settled for third place over the 10km at the Adizero Road to Records.

The duo’s strongest opposition will come from Ugandans and Ethiopians. Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, a two-time world champion headlines the strong field. Cheptegei has had a great start to his season despite failing to defend his cross-country title.

He finished third at the World Cross-country Championships and finished second at the New York City Half Marathon. He will also be opening his track season in Florence.

Cheptegei will be joined by Oscar Chelimo, a world 5000m bronze medallist. Chelimo will be renewing his rivalry with Krop who defeated him during last year’s World Championships. Chelimo will also be opening his track season at the Meeting.

The Ethiopian quintet of Berihu Aregawi, Haile Bekele, Yomif Kejelcha, Samuel Tefera, and Getnet Wale will also be in the mix to upset the competitors. 

Aregawi is one to watch out for when the race kicks off. He surprised the masses at the World Cross-country Championships where he finished second.

Kejelcha will also pose as a threat as he has a good start to his season. He has competed in two 5km road races where he won one (Semi Marathon de Lille) and placed second in the other (Adizero Roads Records).

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