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Ugandan long-distance runner Joshua Cheptegei’s name is still on the lips of the athletics fans around the globe after he conquered the 5000m world record (WR).
Cheptegei beat the 16-year-old mark set by Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele by almost two seconds after posting 12:35.36 at the Monaco Diamond League in France on August 14.
Barely a month later, Cheptegei and his management Global Sports Communication on Thursday announced that he will attempt to break Bekele’s 10000m WR in Spanish city of Valencia next month.
“I’m really happy to announce the NN Valencia World Record Day. On October 7, I’ll go for the 10,000 metres World Record. Many thanks to NN Running Team and the city of Valencia for organising this great event,” Cheptegei said via social media on Thursday.
“When there aren’t many races, we aim for the highest. Joshua Cheptegei is going for the 10.000 meters world record!” read a tweet by GSC’s elite long-distance NN Running Team.
It means the 23-year-old will be gunning for a fourth straight WR but a second in a space of 54 days.
On December 10, Cheptegei ran the 10K WR at the Trinidad Valencia Alfonso event before breaking the 5km WR at the Monaco Herculis Run on February 16.
Bekele posted 10000m WR of 12 minutes and 17.34 seconds on August 26, 2005 in Brussels, Belgium.
But Cheptegei’s 10000m personal best is almost 30 adrift of that at 12:48.36 which he posted while winning the title at the Doha World Championships in Qatar last October.
CHEPTEGEI AT A GLANCE
Date of birth: September 12, 1996
Major Races: 5000m, 10000m
Personal Bests: 5000m (12:35.36), 10000m (26:48.36)
Coach: Addy Ruiter
Manager: Jurrie van der Velden
Kit Sponsor: Nike
CHEPTEGEI’S PERSONAL BESTS
1500m: 3:37.82 (2016)
3000m: 7:33.26 (2019)
Two miles: 8:07.54 (2019) NR
5000m: 12:35.36 (2020) WR
10000m: 26:48.36 (2019)
5km: 12:51 (2020) WR
10km: 26:38 (2019) NR
15km: 41:05 (2018) WB
10M: 45:15 (2018) NR
Denotes: NR - National Record, WR - World Record, WB - World Best
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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