Ugandan Long-Distance Champion Joshua Cheptegei Retains 10,000m Title
Uganda’s world record holder Joshua Cheptegei delivered a tactical masterclass at the World Athletics Championship in Eugene, winning a second successive world 10,000m Gold medal in a time of 27:27.43 minutes on Sunday.
In the race, he increased his momentum with over a kilometre to go, throwing in laps of 64 and 63 seconds to stretch a group of eight as they hit the bell. Cheptegei then continued to press and was strong enough to hold the field off and come home in 27:27.43 minutes.
Kenya’s Stanley Mburu, who took a heavy fall on the first lap, recovered well to finish second in 27:27.90. Jacob Kiplimo, 21, who was third in Tokyo, claimed another bronze for Uganda in 27:27.97.
Back-to-back world champion!@joshuacheptege1 🇺🇬 defends his world 10,000m title in 27:27.45 💪#WorldAthleticChamps pic.twitter.com/DMkDLWYweX
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) July 17, 2022
“I knew that if I get into the last fight, I can control it and I could speed it up,” said Cheptegei, still only 25 but who made his world championship debut back in 2015.
“I did not aim to run really fast because of the heat, the sun was very strong, but I was able to get stronger and keep it faster and faster.”
Cheptegei, who also took a silver in the event in 2017 and who won Olympic gold over 5,000m last year, will now attempt the elusive double when going again over 5,000 later in the week in Eugene.
“It was very emotional for me to come back to the USA where I started my international career in 2014 (winning the world junior 10,000m title in Eugene),” Cheptegei said.
“Now, I want to continue my dominancy in the long distance running and I hope I will manage it.”
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters/World Athletics.
