Young Australian Ky Robinson took full advantage of the cracking pace set by rising Ugandan star Jacob Kiplimo and the Kenyan contingent to make a real mark in a red-hot 10,000m final at the Commonwealth Games.
In his first senior international meet, the 20-year-old Robinson finished an impressive sixth in 27 minutes 44.33 seconds, stripping more than two seconds off his PB in the process.
It was the fastest 10,000m time ever recorded by an Australian at an Olympics, world championships or Commonwealth Games and also moved Robinson into the top 10 on the national all-time list.
Three of the top six finishers bettered their PBs in Tuesday night’s final, while Kiplimo’s winning effort of 27:09.19 was a Games record.
He powered away from eventual silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo in the last lap to add Commonwealth gold to his Olympic and world bronzes over the same distance.
Kenyan runners filled the next three spots behind Kiplimo.
Uganda has now won this event at every Commonwealth Games since 2006.
Kiplimo stepped up in the absence of his superstar countryman Joshua Cheptegei, who skipped the Birmingham Games so he could compete in the Diamond League meet in Silesia, Poland on Saturday.
“I think for me winning this Commonwealth Games title was everything, the most important thing for me this season,” Kiplimo said.
“But I still have a lot of things to do in the future at the Olympics and world championships.”
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