Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei Clinches Historic Third Consecutive World 10,000m Title in Budapest

By Kundu Ronald

Budapest, Hungary - In a stunning display of endurance and speed, Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei secured his place in the annals of athletic history by claiming his third consecutive world 10,000m title on a scorching Sunday evening in Budapest. The 26-year-old Ugandan athlete, known for his exceptional long-distance prowess, raced across the finish line with a time of 27 minutes and 51.42 seconds, cementing his status as a track legend.

Cheptegei's journey to victory was not without challenges. Battling through an injury-ridden year and struggling to regain his peak form, the world record holder for both the 5000m and 10,000m events proved his mettle under the hot and humid conditions. With a mesmerizing final lap time of 53 seconds, Cheptegei surged ahead to leave his competitors in his wake.

As the deafening cheers of the crowd reverberated through the stadium, Cheptegei executed a tactically masterful race. In a nail-biting finish, he fended off a fierce late surge from Ethiopia's Olympic champion, Selemon Barega, to clinch the gold medal. Daniel Ebenyo of Kenya secured the silver medal with a time of 27:52.60, closely followed by Ethiopia's Selemon Barega who captured the bronze with a time of 27:52.72.

Notably, Cheptegei's triumph earned him the lion's share of the prize pool. World Athletics awarded him an impressive $70,000 (equivalent to approximately Shs256 million), a sum that has already found its way into Cheptegei's bank account. The silver and bronze medalists were rewarded with $35,000 (about Shs128 million) and $22,000 (roughly Shs81 million) respectively, extending the prize distribution to the eighth-placed athlete.

In a proud moment for Uganda, Cheptegei will also represent his nation in the 5,000m finals alongside his compatriot and fellow bronze medalist, Oscar Chelimo. This formidable duo aims to continue Uganda's remarkable track and field legacy.

Cheptegei's remarkable achievement places him in the company of legendary athletes like Great Britain's Mo Farah, who secured the world title in 2013 (Moscow), 2015 (Beijing), and 2017 (London). Remarkably, Cheptegei and Farah now stand just one title away from matching the extraordinary accomplishments of Ethiopian icons Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele, each of whom secured the world title four times.

As the world basks in the glory of Cheptegei's feat, all eyes are now on Uganda's celebrated star athlete, Halimah Nakaayi. She is set to begin her campaign in the 800m heats on Wednesday, with hopes of reclaiming her prestigious 2019 Doha World Athletics gold medal. The nation stands united in anticipation, eagerly awaiting Nakaayi's performance and fervently wishing her success in her pursuit of further glory.