Kiplimo dominated the half marathon in Newcastle, United Kingdom becoming the first Ugandan to win the race.
The Queen loved us, wanted the best for us - Kiplimo dedicates win to late Elizabeth II
Jacob Kiplimo has dedicated the Great North Run to the late Queen Elizabeth II describing her was a royal who wanted the ‘best for us all”.
Queen Elizabeth-Kiplimo
Kiplimo posted 59:32 ahead of Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega, Olympic champion who came second posting 1:00:39 and compatriot Kenenisa Bekele came third with a time of 1:01:01.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s Hellen Obiri posted 1:07:05 to eclipse Ethiopia’s Peres Jepchirchir (1:07:07) and Almaz Ayana (1:07:10).
In his post-race press conference, he dedicated the race to the Queen.
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“The Queen loved us all. She loved sports and always wanted the best for us all”.
“I wanted glory and it is because I wanted to win for the Queen and the entire royal family including the Commonwealth family around the world.
All that we wanted in the training was executed well on the road and I thank him for that. Now we will travel back to Uganda to continue training”, he said.
While several sporting events in the United Kingdom were postponed in honour of the departed monarch, the Great North Run was given the limelight.
The half marathon attracted over 60,000 participants with several tributes paid to the Queen including overhead banners.
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The win means Kiplimo has continued an excellent form from the World Athletics Championship, Eugene Oregon where he won bronze in 10,000m and double gold in the Commonwealth Games, Birmingham in over 5,000m and 10,000m distances.
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