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Joshua Cheptegei ended 2021 as a happy man after winning his final track race of the year at the Prefontaine Classic in USA at the weekend.
The 24-year-old powered to a strong finish to win the two-mile run at the Hayward Field in Oregon in the early hours of Sunday.
The 5000m Olympic champion clocked a world lead time of eight minutes and 9.55 seconds to beat a field of 16 men including the 10000m Olympic champion Selemon Barega.
“It feels so good to come back and run 2-mile in Oregon,” stated Cheptegei. The win proved pivotal for Cheptegei who plans to defend his world 10000m title in Oregon next July.
“It really means a lot to me to win here in Oregon and it will always be in my heart,” added the man who won the world junior 10000m title here seven years ago.
Barega attempted to do his magic from the Tokyo Olympics last month but this time, Cheptegei delivered a stellar final 400m to win the eight-lap race.
“He showed that it was a mistake for Barega to beat in Tokyo,” said his coach Addy Ruiter. This marked Cheptegei’s final race before sits down to choose which major event to compete in next year.
There is the World Cross-country Championships, the World Half-Marathon Championships, Eugene World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.
EUGENE DIAMOND LEAGUE RESULTS
WOMEN’S 3000M STEEPLECHASE
1 Norah Jeruto (KEN) 8:53.65
2 Courtney Frerichs (USA) 8:57.77
3 Hyvin Kiyeng (KEN) 9:00.05
4 Winfred Yavi (BRN) 9:04.27
5 Celliphine Chespol (KEN) 9:07.07
6 Felicitas Krause (GER) 9:07.61
7 Peruth Chemutai (UGA) 9:10.87
WOMEN’S 800M
1 Athing Mu (USA) 1:55.04
2 Kate Grace (USA) 1:57.60
3 Natoya Goule (JAM) 1:57.71
6 Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) 1:58.78
MEN’S 2-MILE RUN
1 Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 8:09.55
2 Selemon Barega (ETH) 8:09.82
3 Paul Chelimo (USA) 8:09.83
4 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 8:10.16
WOMEN’S 1500M
1 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 3:53.23
2 Linden Hall (AUS) 3:59.73
3 Josette Norris (USA) 4:00.07
4 Winnie Nanyondo (UGA) 4:00.72
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This writer is a global broadcaster and as well, a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and sports presenter with Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune