US Soldier Ran Second US Fastest 5000m Of All Time To Upset Olympics Medalist Paul Chelimo

A US soldier, Emmanuel Bor shot himself into athletics reckon on Thursday (4) in FireFly Recovery to run the second fastest US 5000m indoor. An army officer who benefited from US World Class Athlete Program Upset 2016 Olympics 5000m silver medalist Paul Chelimo to win, clocking 13:05.60 to Chelimo 13:12.51.

After excellent pacing work from Benard Keter (4:09.89 at 1600) and Willy Fink (7:47.94 at 3000), both of whom were aided by the Light Speed Pacing system set up on the infield, Bor continued on American record and sub 13:00 pace on his own. With 1400m to go he was on 12:58.5 pace, and he was still under AR pace with 800 meters to go, needing to split 2:05.09 or faster to break the record (2:05.00 per 800 was American Record pace). But the effort ultimately proved too much for him, 

But the effort ultimately proved too much for him, with Bor’s penultimate three laps his slowest of the race — 32.47-32.79-32.25 — until he managed to pick it up slightly for a 31.95 last lap. Chelimo, who had been dropped at 3k, kicked it in with a 29.02 lap to finish second with Fink taking third in 13:34.00 after completing his pacing duties.

“It’s actually an honor to be second-fastest American,” Bor said. “I thought I would get it. The 3k was a little bit fast. I think if I had gone around 7:51, maybe at the end I would have just pulled through. But I’ll keep trying. Next time, I know I can get it. It’s just a matter of when.”

The female event was won by Kurgrat Ednah who finished in 15:26.54 a US soldier as well.