MONACO – Uganda’s long-distance runner Joshua Cheptegei has spoken out on his massive win at Monaco Run, describing his new record as “a great first test for me in an important season”.
“Wow, this is really great. I had sub 13 minutes in my mind today so when my legs felt good during the race I decided to really go for it,” said Cheptegei as seen on the World Athletics Website.
Cheptegei also says that to take this many seconds off the record makes “me very happy and is a great first test for me in an important season,” The world Champion smashed the world 5-kilometer record by clocking 12 minutes and 51 seconds at the Monaco Run held in Mediterranean Principality (Monaco, France) on Sunday morning.
World Record! Congratulations @joshuacheptege1 upon setting a new 5km world record (12 minutes 51 seconds) in Monaco today. pic.twitter.com/WEm0LqCUlE
— Uganda Airlines (@UG_Airlines) February 16, 2020
The 23-year-old took off an astonishing 27 seconds off Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruno’s record.
Cheptegei, who was making his 2020 racing debut, has now set a new record, surpassing the preceding fastest ever a time for the distance – done by Sammy Kipketer in Carlsbad, USA in 2000, when he clocked 13:00.
This, however, was before the 5km became an official world record event in November 2017.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was among the first athletes to congratulate Cheptegei.
“Congratulations to Joshua Cheptegei who has Uganda is proud of you and we look forward to even greater performances, especially at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” Mr. Museveni twitted.
Cheptegei was the 10,000m Gold medal winner at the World Championships in Doha last year.