Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei is already the 5,000-metre Olympic champion and a two-time world champ within the 10,000 metre distance and the world file holder at each distances, however it appears he’s simply getting began. Cheptegei, 26, one in all solely ten males to ever maintain each data concurrently, says he feels it’s time to step up his distance–and can be doing so in Valencia on Dec. 3.
The Valencia Marathon, recognized for its quick and flat course, is on acquainted floor for the 26-year-old athlete. “I’ve run 2 of my world data there and so they organized the NN Valencia World File Day for me in Covid-times,” Cheptegei instructed World Athletics. “Now they’ve given me the chance to run my first marathon. I already know the observe in Valencia and I’m very excited to discover the roads right here.” Cheptegei runs with the world’s finest marathoner, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge on the NN Operating Crew.
MARATHON DEBUT 🦍🇺🇬🇪🇸 – @maratonvalencia
I really feel it’s time to broaden my horizon, I’m operating on the observe for 10 years now. I’ve all the time had full give attention to the observe distances, whereas I knew the marathon was ready for me. It’s an ambition that I’m actually excited to go for. pic.twitter.com/yApcDPM5Ll— Joshua Cheptegei 🇺🇬🇺🇬 🥇🥇 (@joshuacheptege1) July 2, 2023
Whereas Cheptegei says his principal focus for the subsequent 12 months would be the 2024 Paris Olympics, he hopes his marathon debut can be a very good expertise — and it’ll assist decide what path his racing will head in post-Olympics. Cheptegei completed second on the New York Half Marathon in March of this 12 months (his second-ever try on the distance), and ran a PB of 59:21 on the World Half Marathon Champs in 2020.
The present course file in Valencia is a scorchingly quick 2:01:53, set in 2022 by Kenyan runner Kelvin Keptum, additionally in a marathon debut. The final 4 editions of the race have been received in sub-2:04 instances, and Cheptegei’s debut at such a remarkably fast race can be drastically anticipated.
