Paul Chelimo Changes Racing Plans Following 10,000 Meters in Stockholm

By Adam Kopet

Paul Chelimo announced on his website this week that he will not attempt the 5,000- and 10,000-meter double at the USATF Outdoor Championships as he had originally planned.

Chelimo's plans had been to compete in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at both the USATF Outdoor Championships next month and the IAAF World Outdoor Championships at the end of the season.

However, Chelimo needed to run the world standard in the 10,000 meters first. He made his attempt at the Stockholm Diamond League meeting, running his first 10,000 since 2011. Despite running a two-minute personal best, Chelimo fell just short of the standard of 27:40. He finished fourth in 27:43.89.

In the race, Chelimo suffered from some Achilles tendon tightness, which might have been a factor in missing the time he needed.

Chelimo's only options to keep the double alive were to race another 10,000 meters before the USATF Outdoor Championships at the end of July or beat the standard at the championships.

Instead, Chelimo has elected to return to focusing on the 5,000 meters this year and to leave the 10,000-meter plans for another year. After capturing silver and bronze medals in the 5,000 at the 2016 Olympics and the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, respectively, he considers himself to have unfinished business at that distance.

In the meantime, Chelimo is currently completing a training block in Kenya. He is set to return to the U.S. to race a loaded field over 2 miles at the Prefontaine Classic. The race includes nine men, including Chelimo, who have run under 7:40 for 3,000 meters, or its 2-mile equivalent.