10,000m Podium:
- Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) – 27:51.42
- Daniel Simiu Ebenyo (Kenya) – 27:52.60
- Selemon Barega (Ethiopia) – 27:52.72
Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei delivered another outstanding performance to win his third consecutive Gold in 10,000m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Cheptegei powered home in 27:51.42 to claim Uganda’s first medal at the ongoing Championships.
The World Record Holder at the distance needed to fend off resistance from Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega on home straight who later settled for Bronze while Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo clinched Silver.
It’s a remarkable feat for Cheptegei whoo had won the previous 10,000m titles in 2019 Doha and 2022 Oregon.
And he is now mentioned in the same sentence as the Ethiopian duo of Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele who went on to win four, and England’s Mo Farah who won it thrice in a row.
Cheptegei who was denied this 10,000m gold at the Tokyo Olympics, has reached the World Championships podium four times consecutively having won silver at the 2017 London Championships.
Cheptegei Proves Doubters Wrong
For the first time in recent past, Cheptegei’s chances to take Gold were in doubt given his form.
He had not raced a 25-lap event this year before Sunday in Budapest.
And even in other distances this year, Cheptegei had flattered to deceive.
Fourth at Golden Gala (5000m) on June 2, second 22 days later in Lausane Diamond League. Second in March at the New York Half Marathon and third at World Cross Country in Barthust in February.
The results may look just fine on paper, but to Cheptegei, who is synonymous with just winning, something looked wrong.
And during flag-off back in Kampala, at Copper Chimney at Lugogo to be specific, Cheptegei confirmed that these are his last Championships as he plans to set eyes on Marathons.
His competitors were also banking on injuries that have ravaged Cheptegei in recent past including one that made him miss the Commonwealth Games last year in Birmingham.
And the late blow of his compatriot Jacob Kiplimo withdrawing due to an injury while training in Kapchorwa, it looked like a huge mountain to climb for Cheptegei.
Granted, Cheptegei had to do it with fellow country-mates Rogers Kibet and Joel Ayeko.
Ayeko did a commendable job in burning the field initially as he led for the first 4000m, before later pulling out.
Cheptegei was close by before dropping to 10th halfway the event. Few laps later, he came back and went toe-to-toe with the leaders.
And the race had to be decided on the last lap when Cheptegei went upfront just before the bell. It looked like a three-horse race on the home straight, but Cheptegei pulled away with a strong kick down the stretch before crossing the line well clear.
Rogers Kibet came home 21st in a time of 29:10.07.
Cheptegei will return to action on Thursday in 5000m heats.
No Ugandan athlete in action on Monday.
