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Jacob Kiplimo's gold follows amazing progress from the 22-year-old, winning gold in the U20s race in 2017, and following it up with Silver in 2019 in Aarhus, Denmark.
Jacob Kiplimo produced a lightening round the 10km-long race run to win gold at the 2023 World Cross Country Championship in Bathurst, Australia.
Kiplimo, beat a strong field that included world 10000m and 5000m record holder Joshua Cheptegei, Olympic 10000m gold medalist Selemon Barega and two-time World Cross Country champion – 2015 and 2017 - Geoffrey Kamworor.
A potential threat of a storm meant that the race was pushed forward by 20 minutes, with strong winds of 18 km/h adding to the challenge at the Mount Panorama, southwest of Sydney, better known as one of the world's most challenging motor racing courses.
But Kiplimo conquered all to even celebrate as he made his way down the home stretch and stop the clock at 29:17 with second placed Berihu Aregawi from Ethiopia finishing nine seconds behind.
Joshua Cheptegei arrived in Bathurst seeking to defend his title from four years ago in Bathurst, Denmark, where Kiplimo won silver.
And after leading the race heading into the final three kilometres, he was overtaken by his compatriot who had the kick to stretch is lead on the uphill with Cheptegei failing to find the legs to keep up.
Cheptegei settled for third place, 20 seconds behind Kiplimo, but found solace in the fact that once again he beat rival Geoffrey Kamworor who finished fourth.
World half marathon silver medalist Kandie Kibiwott (0:29:57), Commonwealth Games 5000m silver medalist Daniel Simiu (0:30:01) and Sebastian Sawe (0:30:04) placed fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Letsenbet Gidey disappointingly missed out on gold after a stumble with barely 100m to go allowed Beatrice Chebet to go through and win the medal.
Gidey was illegally helped back onto her feet by Ethiopians officials, and despite crossing the line in fourth place, she was disqualified.
Fellow Ethiopian Tsigie Gebreselama came second with Kenya's Agnes Jebet Ngetich third.
Kenya won the mixed relay, where two women and two men each run a 2km loop, in 23.14 -- seven seconds ahead of Ethiopia to avenge their defeat from Denmark. Australia came third.
Kenyan Ishmael Kipkurui claimed the men's U20 title while Ethiopia's Senayet Getachew was the women's champion.
2023 World Cross Country Championships
Senior Men’s Race Results
1. Jacob KIPLIMO 29:17
2. Berihu AREGAWI 29:26
3. Joshua CHEPTEGEI 29:37
4. Geoffrey KAMWOROR 29:37
5. Kibiwott KANDIE 29:57
Senior Womens Results
1 Beatrice CHEBET KEN 33:48
2 Tsigie GEBRESELAMA ETH 33:56
3 Agnes NGETICH KEN 34:00
4 Grace NAWOWUNA KEN 34:13
5 Fotyen TESFAY ETH 34:30
6 Hawi FEYSA ETH 34:36
7 Prisca CHESANG UGA 34:42
Men Juniors (U20) Results
1 Ishmael KIPKURUI KEN 24:29
2 Reynold CHERUIYOT KEN 24:30
3 Boki DIRIBA ETH 24:31
4 Dan KIBET UGA 24:36
5 Bereket ZELEKE ETH 24:51
6 Keneth KIPROP UGA 24:52
Women Juniors (U20) Results
1 Senayet GETACHEW ETH 20:53
2 Medina EISA ETH 21:00
3 Pamela KOSGEI KEN 21:01
4 Faith CHEROTICH KEN 21:10
14 Bentalin YEKO UGA 22:24
Mixed Relays Results
1 Kenya 23:14
2 Ethiopia 23:21
3 Australia 23:26
4 South Africa 23:50
9 Uganda 25:06
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