Joshua Cheptegei became the first Ugandan to triumph at the IAAF Diamond League final after he won the men’s 5000m race in Zurich, Switzerland on Thursday night.
“Very proud moment to become the Diamond League 5000m winner,” Cheptegei remarked in a post via
Instagram after winning the race in a time of 12 minutes and 57.41 seconds.
“Thanks to you Papa God for the grace. It’s not been easy competing with the best of the world. Thank you guys for the challenge, it strives me to improve better and better,” he wrote.
Cheptegei needed to run under 13 minutes over the 12-and-half-lap race for the first time in 25 months to emerge victorious and that is what he exactly did.
With the stronger pack choosing to watch the race from the back, Cheptegei was pulled ahead by the Australian pace makers Patrick Tiernan and Ryan Gregson.
By the time they fell off, Cheptegei had gained a 10-metre lead over the rest of the field.
With four laps to go, it grew to 15m and with 650m left, American Paul Chelimo, the Ethiopian quartet of Hagos Gebrhiwet, Yomif Kejelcha, Haile Bekele and Selemon Barega had noticed the Ugandan was in flight mode.
Cheptegei had now gained a 60m lead into the final lap and when Kejelcha, Bekele, Barega and Gebrhiwet attempted to chase him upon the bell, it was a bit too late.
Cheptegei powered to the finish line, celebrating with arms wide, tongue popping out before kneeing with the Ugandan flag in awe.
Gebrhiwet came second in 12:58.15 while Kenyan Nicholas Kipkorir came third in 12:59.05. Cheptegei’s win places him in pole position to attempt a double at the World Championships in Doha next month.
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IAAF ZURICH DIAMOND LEAGUE RESULTS
MEN’S 5000M
1 Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 12:57.41
2 Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) 12:58.15
3 Nicholas Kipkorir (KEN) 12:59.05
WOMEN’S 1500M
1 Sifan Hassan (NED) 3:57.08
2 Constance Klosterhalfen (GER) 3:59.02
3 Gabriela Debues-Stafford (CAN) 3:59.59
4 Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 4:00.86
5 Winnie Nanyondo (UGA) 4: 08.03
CHEPTEGEI AT A GLANCE
Date of birth: September 12, 1996
Major Races: 5000m, 10000m
Manager: Jurrie van der Velden
Kit Sponsor: Nike
Personal Bests: 5000m (12:57.83), 10000m (26:49.94)
NANYONDO AT A GLANCE
Date of birth: August 23, 1993
Major races: 800m, 1500m
Coach: Addy Ruiter
Kit Sponsor: Adidas
Personal Best: 1:58.63 (800m), 3:59.56 (1500m)
This writer is a global broadcaster and as well 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
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