Jacob Kiplimo will be heading the 10K Valencia Ibercaja on Sunday

Jacob Kiplimo will be heading to the 10K Valencia Ibercaja on Sunday with an attempt to break Rhonex Kipruto's world record that he set on the same course.

As Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo heads to the 10K Valencia Ibercaja on Sunday, January 14, all eyes will be on him to obliterate Rhonex Kipruto’s world record time over the distance.

The Ugandan, just 23 years of age, has proven to be in impeccable form and he will be angling to destroy the Kenyan's world record over the distance. Kipruto set the world record back in 2020 on the same course, clocking 26:24 to win the race.

The courses in Valencia are usually known to be fast and produce great times and 2024 will be no different since the quality of the field attracted comprises Olympians and World Championships medalists.

Less than two months ago Kiplimo equaled the 15km world record in the Netherlands (41:05) after coming back from injury.

He also holds the half marathon record after his dominant display at the Lisbon Half Marathon where he cut the tape in 57:31. Kiplimo has already proven to be in the form of his life and if the weather and all conditions are right, he will surely dip under Kipruto’s world record time.

Meanwhile, the men’s race has also attracted national 10K record holders like Rodrigue Kwizera (Burundi), Pietro Riva (Italy), and Richard Douma (Netherlands).

Additionally, Dominic Lobalu, a refugee athlete from South Sudan now naturalized Swiss, who tied the European 5K Record, will also be a competitor to watch.

Spanish elite athletes include Abdessamad Oukhelfen in men's and Águeda Marqués and Cristina Ruiz in women's, all arriving in excellent shape and with ambitious goals.

posted Friday January 12th
by Abigael Wuafula