News

PICTORIAL: How Cheptegei delivered masterclass to retain world 10,000m title at Oregon 2022 Championships

Cheptegei, also the world record holder, led for large periods of the race and held off all challengers on the final lap at Eugene’s Hawyard Field to clock a winning time of 27min 27.43sec.

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei delivered a masterclass of unpanicked front running to retain the men’s world 10,000m title in  Oregon, on Sunday.

Cheptegei, also the world record holder, led for large periods of the race and held off all challengers on the final lap at Eugene’s Hawyard Field to clock a winning time of 27min 27.43sec.

Kenya’s Stanley Waithaka Mburu claimed silver in 27:27.90, with another Ugandan, Jacob Kiplimo, taking bronze (27:27.97) in an unsually close finish.

“I did not aim to run really fast because of the heat, the sun was very strong,” Cheptegei said. “The conditions were kind of challenging.

“You just have to enjoy the race and see how it is going. Then it was going good.”

- Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. -

Cheptegei added: “I knew that if I get into the last fight, I can control it and I could speed it up. I was able to get stronger and keep it faster and faster.”

Spain’s Carlo Mayo took up the early running, the loaded field quickly splitting into single file.

Uganda’s Stephen Kissa and Cheptegei then moved to the front at the 3km mark, reigning Olympic champion Selemon Barega briefly surging through the 5km mark in 14.01.

Kiplimo put in a shift up front, further splitting the pack to a lead group of 15, perhaps bigger than the east Africans might have liked.

Heading into the final two laps, Barega and Mburu shot to the front, setting up a grandstand finish as a pack of eight went through the bell for the final 400 metres.

Long-time leader Cheptegei was in no doubt about what his race plan was, kicking past the pair at 300 metres and easily holding off all-comers down the back stretch, around the final bend and towards the home straight in a consummate display of distance running.

- Advertisement. -

Do you have a story or an opinion to share? Email us on: dailyexpressug@gmail.com Or join the Daily Express WhatsApp channel for all the latest news and trends or join the Telegram Channel for the latest updates.



[post-views]
Comments

Daily Express is Uganda's number one source for breaking news, National news, policy analytical stories, e-buzz, sports, and general news.

We resent fake stories in all our published stories, and are driven by our tagline of being Accurate, Fast & Reliable.

Copyright © 2024 Daily Express Uganda. A Subsidiary of Rabiu Express Media Group Ltd.

To Top
Translate »