Olympic 5000m champion, Joshua Cheptegei failed to live to his expectations of breaking two records at the 58th edition of the San Silvestre Vallecana 10km Road Race held on the New Year eve in Madrid, Spain.
Cheptegei who holds the World record in the 5000m and 10000m failed his two attempts of lowering his compatriot Jacob Kiplimo’s course record of 26:39 that he set in 2018, who broke the previous record of twelve years set by the World Marathon Record holder Eliud Kipchoge and the two years 10km World record of 26:24 set by Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto.
The 26 year-old who is also the double World 10,000m champion, failed to break the records but managed to beat the defending champion, the World 1500m bronze medallist Mohammed Katir.
Cheptegei who is also the 2019 World Cross Country champion, arrived in Madrid after overcoming an injury that has kept him from competing much this year, led Katir by ten seconds, who kept up with the pace set by the Ugandan until the last 2km and was unable to revalidate last year’s victory, allowing the Ugandan to cut the tape first in 27:09 with Katir coming home in second place ten seconds later in a new personal best.
Jesus Ramos closed the podium three finishes in 27:52.
LEADING RESULTS
10KM MEN
- Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 27:09
- Mohamed Katir (SPN) 27:19
- Jesus Ramos (SPN) 27:52
- Sergio Escobar (SPN) 28:00
- Aaron Ruperez (SPN) 28:04
Facebook Comments