Uganda’s Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion, Joshua Cheptegei, is set to compete in the Tokyo Marathon on March 2, marking another milestone in his transition to long-distance road racing.
Cheptegei, who made his marathon debut at the Valencia Marathon last year, finishing 37th, says he is now in better shape after months of intensive training.
“I made my debut in Valencia last year and finished 37th. Now I am in better shape and hope to perform better,” he told Xinhua.
The Olympic 5,000m gold medalist from Tokyo 2020 and 10,000m champion from Paris 2024 has been steadily shifting his focus to marathon racing, aiming for a stronger performance in Tokyo.
Cheptegei will be joined by compatriot Stephen Kissa, Uganda’s national marathon record holder with a time of 2:04:48, set at the 2022 Hamburg Marathon.
Kissa expressed confidence ahead of the race, stating, “I feel very ready and mentally prepared.”
The Ugandan duo face stiff competition from an elite field, including the Marathon defending champion Benson Kipruto of Kenya and Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta.
The Tokyo Marathon also doubles as a selection trial for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, adding extra stakes to the highly anticipated race.
Send us your story or opinion on: dailyexpressug@gmail.com. You can also follow Daily Express on WhatsApp for all the latest news and updates.
