World’s fastest man Cheptegei defends title in Oregon

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei once again delivered a masterclass as he defended the 10,000m title at the World Athletics Championshipsin Oregon, USA.

Right from the start, the 25 year old Ugandan athlete showed intent as he kept not far away from Spain’s Carlo Mayo who led the pack.

At the 3km mark, Cheptegei moved to the front but at 5km mark, Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega took the lead.

At 300 metres, Ugandan runner showed what he is made of and easily held off all-comers down the back stretch and maintained the lead until the finish line.

At the end of the day, the fastest man in history at 5000m and 10,000m clocked a time of 27:27:43 to win gold and also defend the 10,000m title.

Cheptegei also beat Kenya’s Stanley Waithaka Mburu who posted a time of 27:27:90 whereas Jacob Kiplimo, another Ugandan, settled for bronze having posted a time of 27:27:93.

 Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega finished a distant fifth after being beaten by America’s Grant Fisher on the final day at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.

Cheptegei’s heroics meant he yet again reached another feat by becoming the fourth back to back world 10,000m champion.

Others who have done it before include Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele, all from Ethiopia as well as Britain’s Mo Farah.

“I knew that if I could get into the last fight, I could control it and I could speed it up,” said Cheptegei, who won the world U20 title back at Hayward Field eight years ago.

 “It was very emotional for me to come back to the USA where I started my international career in 2014. Now, I want to continue my dominance in long distance running and I hope I will manage it.”