Joshua Cheptegei’s double gold from the Commonwealth Games in April earned the country pride but the success came at a huge cost.
Having won the 5000m and 10000m which fetched him Shs50m from National Council of Sports, Cheptegei is now set to miss the rest of the track season after picking up an injury in the right knee.
“It is painful,” Cheptegei told Daily Monitor early this week. “I did some light work but now it is very serious,” he explained.
The 21-year-old missed the IAAF Eugene Diamond League in Oregon, USA at the weekend where teenager Jacob Kiplimo came 11th in the men’s 2-mile race at the Hayward Field.
It is the second Diamond League event Cheptegei has missed this season after opting out of Doha on May 4.
This paper understands that Cheptegei would probably not have been down had nhe ot run the 10000m in Australia. “Yes,” he concurred.
‘Persuaded by UAF’
But after he won the 5000m at the Carrara Stadium, he was supposed to leave Australia after for his own personal training but he was persuaded by Uganda Athletics Federation to complete the long-distance double.
“When I did the 5000m, it (knee) was okay for me. But when I did the 10000m, it got worse.”
The 2017 World 10000m silver medallist is more bothered sitting out ahead of the 2019 Doha World Championships.
“Now I cannot stand or sit for long. I am trying to heal and it’s not easy. I hope I can return later in the season for some road races.” Cheptegei added.
While Cheptegei is out, counterpart Albert Chemutai is back on track tonight for the 3000m steeplechase at the Rome Diamond League.
Sixth with a personal best of 8:18.80 in Doha, Chemutai is out for consistency and will aim to run the water-jump race a little quicker at the Stadio Olimpico. He is in a field of 20 with seven Kenyans, Doha winner Ethiopian Beyo Chala and Olympic bronze medallist Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi Benabbad.
Cheptegei’s medals
2014 World University X-Country Gold
2014 World Junior 10000m Gold
2015 Africa 10000m Gold
2017 World 10000m Silver
2018 Commonwealth 5000m Gold
2018 Commonwealth 10000m Gold
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