Jacob Kiplimo Suggests Tallahassee Win Could Be His Last Cross Country as He Hints at Next Destination

Jacob Kiplimo has hinted at the next stage of his career, revealing that he will not compete at another World Cross Country Championship.

In Tallahassee, Jacob Kiplimo made history by claiming his third consecutive men’s senior title, thanks to a well-executed tactical race, with Berihu Aregawi and Daniel Simiu Ebenyo finishing second and third, respectively.

After the race, the Ugandan star expressed his excitement at successfully defending his title, explaining that his strategy was simply to apply everything he had learned in training and that the sacrifices he had made had finally paid off.

“I think for me I was just coming to run a good race, but I'm happy because now I've won the race three times. I'm so happy about it,” Jacob Kiplimo said.

“I think, actually, for me it was about the determination and consistency in your training. I think what helped me a lot is believing in myself and hard work."

Jacob Kiplimo further revealed that he is planning to fully focus on road racing in the future and will be discussing his next steps with his management team.

He indicated that the London Marathon could be his next major target, suggesting that he may be stepping away from cross-country competitions.

Jacob Kiplimo also explained that, given the demands of marathon training and competition, it would be difficult to return for the next World Cross Country Championship.

He added that the event in Tallahassee could mark his final appearance in the cross-country event, as his primary focus is now on preparing for and excelling in marathons.

“I keep running cross country so that I can get the endurance for the next season. I think, actually, now I'm going to sit with my management, I think it's going to be maybe the London Marathon. I think now maybe this one is going to be the last because now we know Marathon,” Jacob Kiplimo said.

“And you come back again, I think the World Cross Country will be in 2027 or 2028. I think it's not going to be possible. Yeah, I think this is my last one. I've been concentrating on the Marathon.”