Paris Olympics: Kenya's wait for 10000m title continues as Cheptegei breaks Games record
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 02.08.24. | 23:38
Kenya's first and only gold medal in the distance dates back to 1968 when Naftali Temu raised the country’s flag high in Mexico City
All seemed to be working in favour an Ethiopian sweep to repeat Finlands feat from 1936, but Joshua Cheptegei had other plans as he timed his kick to perfection, winning his maiden Olympic 10,000m gold.
The world record holder in 5000m and 10,000m who missed out on a double in Tokyo, losing the longer race to Selemon Barega had his day to revenge and he did it in style, clocking 26:43.14 to break a 16-year record.
The previous record stood at 27:01.17s set by Kenenisa Bekele in Beijing 2008.
From the get go, defending champion, Barega was not afraid to set the pace, going ahead a few strides before the leading pack that had already been reduced to single file caught up.
All three Ethiopian, Barega, Yomif Kejelcha and Berihu Aregawi remained at the helm with Grant Fisher the only athlete challenging the trio.
In a spectacular show of team racing, Aregawi and Kejelcha assumed lead, interchangeably, stepping on it to give the Ethiopians an advantage while spliting the field further.
Bernard Kibet, who had managed to stay with the pack moved ahead as Barega and Aregawi found the going tough, dropping to the back of the pack, leaving Kejelcha to do the dirty work.
The Kenyan would, however, drop to the back moments later as Cheptegei who had so far remained in the middle made his move, coming up the file to third.
He made his move in the final kilometre, for the win as Aregawi moved up in the final 100m to settled for silver in 26:43.44 as American Grant Fisher bagged bronze in 26:43.46 after an amazing race.
Kibet was the quickest Kenyan, finishing fifth in 26:43.98 behind Mohammed Ahmed (26:43.79). Kejelcha (26:44.02) and Barega (26:44.48) occupied the next two places.
Daniel Mateiko (26:50.83) was 11th while Nicholas Kimeli (27:23.97) was 14th.
Kenya's first and only gold medal in the distance dates back to 1968 when Naftali Temu raised the country’s flag high in Mexico City.
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