Uganda’s Cheptegei reigns supreme in San Silvestre Vallecana 10 Km road race
Ugandan long distance runner, Joshua Cheptegei wonthe10km San Silvestre Vallecana race on the streets on the Spanish capital, Madrid to ensure he ended the year in style.
The world record holder in the 5000m and 10000m and Olympic 5000m gold medalist from Tokyo 2020 ran 27:09 to beat 2021’s winner Mohamed Katir from Spain who came second whereas Jesús Ramos came third.
The Ugandan runner smoothly controlled the last metres of the race and received a standing ovation from the audience when he crossed the finish line.
He embraced Antonio Sabugueiro, the founder of the race, at the finish line.
The race in Spain was Cheptegei’s first race since getting knee problems in the 5000m final at the Oregon World Athletics Championships in July 2022 but also ensured he finished the year in style as he prepares for the New Year.
Cheptegei became the second Ugandan runner to win the race after Jacob Kiplimo in 2018.
Chesang triumphs in women’s race
In the women’s race, another Ugandans, 19-year-old Prisca Chesang took full honours after clocking 30:19 to beat Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba who came second at 30:58. Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech at 31:06 came third.
She became the first female Ugandan to win the 10km race since its inception in 1998.
About the race
The San Silvestre Vallecana is an annual 10 km road race held on December 31 in Madrid, Spain since 1964 and is based upon the Saint Silvester Road Race, a Brazilian race held since 1925 which spawned numerous other New Year’s Eve races.
It has a fun run for amateur athletes and an elite race for professional athletes with the race achieving its historical record of participants, up to 40,000 in 2012.
Along with the Madrid Marathon, the San Silvestre Vallecana is one of the city’s foremost annual running events.
