At the 19th World Athletics Championships held in Budapest, Uganda’s accomplished long-distance runner, Joshua Cheptegei, once again demonstrated his dominance by clinching the gold medal in the men’s 10000m finals.
Cheptegei, who currently holds the world records for both the 10,000m and 5,000m distances, showcased his remarkable prowess by completing the race in a swift 27:51.42.
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His victory was solidified by a notable lead over Kenya’s Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, who finished with a time of 27:52.60, and Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega, securing the third position with 27:52.72.
Rogers Kibet, another promising Ugandan athlete, secured the 20th position with a commendable time of 28:1.16. Cheptegei attributed his triumph to meticulous preparation that he and his team underwent prior to the championship.
Having previously claimed gold in the Oregon race in 2022 and Doha in 2019, Cheptegei is a reigning force in the long-distance running scene.
His victory this time around further fueled his optimism and determination for the upcoming 5,000m race, which he anticipates to be just as fiercely competitive.
Reflecting on his achievement, Cheptegei expressed gratitude for his coaches’ rigorous training sessions, which he credited as a pivotal factor in his remarkable performance.
Beatrice Ayikoru, an official from the Uganda Athletics Federation, shared the collective joy of the Ugandan team for Cheptegei’s triumph and voiced the belief in the potential of more medals from their athletes.
Looking ahead, Team Uganda has a series of scheduled races:
Tuesday, August 22:
– Tom Dradriga – 800m Men Heats (EAT 20:20)
– Winnie Nanyondo – 1500m Women Finals (EAT 22:30)
– Leonard Chemutai – 3000m steeplechase Men Final (EAT 22:42)
Wednesday, August 23:
– Halima Nakaayi – 800m Women Heats (EAT 11:05)
– Sarah Chelangat and Prisca C Chesang – 5000m Women Heats (EAT 12:10)
– Tarsis G Orogot – 200m Men Heats (EAT 13:50)
– Peruth Chemutai – 3000m Sc Women Heats (EAT 20:45)
– Abu S Mayanja – 1500m Men Final (EAT 22:15)
The enthusiasm and determination exhibited by Cheptegei and his fellow Ugandan athletes promise an exciting and competitive continuation of the championships.
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