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With 3 golds this year, Cheptegei is undisputed king of long distance races
Joshua Cheptegei is now the most successful long distance runner in the world
Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei has become the undisputed world champion of the long-distance races after winning the third major race of the year. Cheptegei won the 10,000 metre race at the World Athletics Championship that drew to a close on Sunday in Doha, Qatar.
The thrilling finale, saw him overpower Ethiopians and Kenyans to climb to the top of the podium, and claim the coveted prize.
His victory brings to three gold medals for Uganda but also makes him the king of the race, a feat previously held by British Mo Farah.
Cheptegei’s victory is a sweet personal achievement after he set his ambition early this year of becoming the most dominant long-distance track athlete in the world and effectively replace British champion Mo Farah.
Cheptegei, who shared the pace with Kenyan duo Rhonex Kipruto and Rodgers Kwemoi for much of the race, overpowered Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in a thrilling final lap to land the title in 26:46.37 – the second-fastest time in World Championships history.
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha came second to win silver, while Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto finished third to take bronze.
Cheptegei ran the race with fellow Ugandan Abdallah Mande, who finished 17th although it’s him who set the pace for nearly the first five minutes but later dropped off.
It was Cheptegei’s third major gold medal this year after winning the 2019 World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus Denmark in March and a gold medal in 5000 metres at the 5000 Diamond league games held in Zurich Switzerland in August this year.
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