Cheptegei successfully defends 10,000m Title in Oregon

Assistant Superintendent of Police Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei has won Uganda’s first gold medal at the ongoing World Athletics Championship Hayward in Eugene, Oregon, United States of America.

The long-distance runner won the gold medal on Sunday crossing the line faster to defend his 10,000m title. Cheptegei finished in a time of 27:27.43 minutes to defend the title he won at the 2019 Edition of the World Athletics Championships held in Doha.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s Stanley Mburu came second with a time of 27: 27.90 seconds, while another Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo settled for a bronze in 27:27.93 minutes. 
Uganda’s Steven Kissa also finished last in the same race.

Cheptegei joins the list of iconic athletes who managed to defend their titles including Ethiopia’s Kenenissa Bekele who won the title in 2007 and defended it in 2009, and Mo Farah. She won the title in 2013, 2015 and 2017 among others.

According to the individual event prize money for the 2022 World Athletics championship, a gold winner bags USD 70,000. After successfully defending his 10,000m title, Cheptegei will now switch focus to competing in the 5000m later in the same championship. 

Cheptegei, who has held the world record at 12:35.36 since 2020 has only raced once on the track in 2022, winning the promotional 5000m at the Wanda Diamond League Meeting in Eugene on 27 May 2022 in 12:57.99 minutes. 

Via URN