By far, Joshua Cheptegei has been the most consistent Ugandan athlete in the last three years.
Despite a few painful shortcomings, Cheptegei has vindicated his form with silverware particularly 10000m silver at the London World Championships last year.
“2017 was an amazing year for me,” Cheptegei said. That London feat is a culmination of his consistency ever since winning 10000m gold at the 2014 World Junior Championships in Oregon, USA.
His 2017 glass remained half-full even if he had withered from the front and lost the senior men’s 10km title at the World Cross-country Championships in Kololo.
However, finishing behind Briton Mo Farah in that 25-lap race at the London Worlds is what pushes the long-distance runner to even do better this year.
“My plan is to win gold and even more in Doha (2019),” he said. But the hard work won’t stop.
“In 2018, I am thinking of doing a half-marathon, possibly the 10000m at the Commonwealth Games.
I also plan to do the Diamond League circuit which will give me a perfect build-up for 2019.” added Cheptegei who narrowly missed the 15K world record by three seconds at the Seven Hills Run in November.
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 (12:59.83), 10000m (26:49.94)
CHEPTEGEI’S 2017 RACE ITINERARY
Jan 14: Nation X-Country, 1st (29:02)
Mar 26: World X-Country, 30th (30:08)
May 27: Eugene DL, 5000m, 4th (13:02.84)
July 1: Paris DL, 3000m, 4th (7:34.96)
July 6: Lausanne DL, 5000m, 3rd (12:59.83*)
Aug 4: London Worlds, 10000m, 2nd (26:49.94*)
Oct 8: Durban 10K, 1st (27:28)
Nov 19: Seven Hills Run, 1st (41:16)
This writer is a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and, also a sports presenter with NBS Television and Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune