There were a number of fine performances by KIMbia athletes in recent weeks. Sammy Kipketer was third in the 5,000 meters at the TDK Golden League Final in Berlin. Gilbert Okari meanwhile extended his unbeaten run on the US road race circuit. He won the sixth race in a row at a 10-kilometer race in Puerto Rico.

Sammy Kipketer produced another fine run on the track. The 23-year-old Kenyan finished third in the 5,000m at the TDK Golden League Final in Berlin on Sunday (4^th September). At the ISTAF in the famous Olympic Stadium he came strong from behind and clocked 13:01.55 minutes. Meanwhile John Korir finished fourth at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach (USA).

At the final meeting of the premier athletics series, the TDK Golden League, 50,000 spectators watched an exciting 5,000m race. While runners at the front set out in a very fast pace Sammy Kipketer ran almost at the back of the field in the first part of the race. But then he started catching up, overtaking one by one. Just before the final lap he had reached the leading group. And with a strong kick he secured third place, almost beating World Champion Benjamin Limo for second (13:45.45). Probably apart from winner Bernard Lagat of the United States, Sammy Kipketer had been the fastest in the field in the last part of the race.

“I felt fine during the race and I am happy with it. It was a bit warm though,” Sammy Kipketer said. In contrast to many European meetings this season there was sunshine with temperatures above 25° Celsius in Berlin. “I am now looking forward to the World Athletics Final in Monte Carlo next weekend,” Sammy Kipketer said. Nine days earlier he had placed fifth in Brussel’s TDK Golden League Meeting, clocking the second fastest 10,000m time of his life (26:52.60). In this event Bob Tahri finished fifth as well in the 3,000m steeplechase with 8:10.22. Number six for Gilbert Okari in Puerto Rico.

No-one appears to be able to stop Gilbert Okari on the American roads. And it is the same story in Puerto Rico. It was in Toa Baja where Gilbert Okari extended his awesome win streak to six races in a row. He won the Carrera International Abraham Rosa 10K race on 21^st August with 28:41 minutes. His KIMbia team mate John Korir came in third.

On a warm and humid afternoon Gilbert Okari could have won more comfortably had he not taken a wrong turn near to the finish. After exchanging the lead with fellow Kenyans Wilson Kiprotich, John Korir and Paul Kosgei during the first four kilometers, Gilbert Okari decided to run his own pace. The others could not follow him and he had a substantial lead of up to 50 meters. But then he turned wrong which did cost him the course record of 28:29 minutes and nearly cost him the race as well. In the end Gilbert Okari was one second ahead of Wilson Kiprotich (28:42). John Korir clocked 28:45. There was a big gap behind Korir: Robert Cheruiyot finished fourth with 29:05.

Before the race in Puerto Rico Gilbert Okari had won Falmouth, Beach to Beacon, Bix 7 at Davenport, Atlanta’s Peachtree and the Utica Boilermaker. Additionally he had also won San Francisco’s Bay to Breakers in May.

Gilbert Okari will now have a break from racing and will go back to Kenya. He will resume training and prepare for racing in the fall. The 27 year old hopes to be selected by his Kenyan federation for the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, which take place in Edmonton (Canada) on 1^st October. He will also act as pacemaker of the Chicago Marathon on 9^th October. A number of KIMbia’s athletes will run this race.