Disappointment for Ugandan star Kipsiro in Qatar

Kipsiro (C) did not lead the pack for so long.

By Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo (email the author)

Posted Sunday, May 8 2011 at 00:00

IN SUMMARY

Results – 3000m
1.A. Yenew (ETH) 7.27.26
2. E. Cheruyiot (KEN) 7.27.55
3. E. Kipchoge (KEN) 7.27.66
7. Kipsiro (UGA) 7.31.83

The opening Samsung Diamond League meeting of the season in Doha, Qatar delivered no joy for Moses Kipsiro as he finished seventh in the 3000m race.
Kipsiro, the only Ugandan there, clocked seven minutes, 31 seconds and 83 micro-seconds in a race where seven of the top nine places were taken by Kenyans.
This was the first time elite athletes hit the track and Kipsiro desperately needed to put behind a near no-show at the World Cross Country Championships in Spain earlier this year.

Ethiopian winner
Ethiopian Alamirev Yenew crossed the line first, losing seven minutes, 27 seconds and 26 micro-seconds. Kenyans Edwin Cheruyiot and Eliud Kipchoge took the other podium positions. However, for Kipsiro, a double Commonwealth Games gold medalist, the Friday showing necessitates a major turnaround for the latter meetings and more importantly the World Championships later this year.
Over the past two months, he has consistently complained of a knee injury that has hampered his abilities.

David Rudisha, the 800m world record holder, and Sudanese Abubaker Kaki pulled out before the gun due to Injury to narrowly lessen the quality of the field.