Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda won the Durban 10-kilometer road race Sunday, extending his strong road-running form in his second race in South Africa.
Compatriot Emmanuel Kibet finished third, capping a strong day for Ugandan distance running.
Cheptegei, the world record holder and Olympic champion, said the result showed his speed remains sharp despite shifting his focus to longer distances.
“It’s good to see that the speed for the shorter distance is still there,” Cheptegei said.
The Ugandan said perseverance has been key to his career.
“The sport always has lots of setbacks, but what is very important is never giving up,” he said.
Cheptegei said he plans to use the victory as a springboard for a half marathon in two months, followed by a full marathon.
“I will build on this for my next half marathon in two months’ time and later the full marathon,” he said.
He added that his preparations, particularly fueling and nutrition, were going well. “Small but great ingredients for great results coming soon,” he said.
Kibet’s podium finish underscored Uganda’s growing depth in international distance running. Cheptegei thanked his supporters and said he would see them soon as he builds toward the marathon.
Joshua Cheptegei is the reigning Olympic 10,000m champion and holds the world records in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, cementing his status as a national hero
Born in Kapchorwa, in the mountainous Eastern region of Uganda, Cheptegei initially played soccer and tried long jump before discovering his talent for distance running. He studied procurement and logistics management and serves as an officer in the Uganda Police
