Cheptegei returns to defend Durban 10K CitySurfRun title
In 2017 Cheptegei ran the fastest time ever on South African soil over the 10km, clocking 27:28.
UGANDA’S Joshua Cheptegei will return to Durban on Sunday, 14 October to defend his title at the second annual FNB Durban 10K CitySurfRun.
In 2017 Cheptegei ran the fastest time ever on South African soil over the 10km, clocking 27:28 to break the previous all-comers record of 27:55 set by Kenya’s Andrew Limo in Port Elizabeth in 2009.
Cheptegei got his 2018 campaign off to a flying start by winning both the 5000m and 10 000m titles at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in April and was all set to compete at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond Leaque event in Oregon before a knee injury saw him withdraw from the rest of the track and field season.
“I picked up a knee injury just before I came to South Africa for the Liquid Telecom Athletix Grand Prix Meeting in March while preparing for the Commonwealth Games. It wasn’t too bad in March and I was supposed to only do the 5000m in Brisbane, but the Uganda Federation asked me to do the 10 000m too. Winning both the 5000m and 10 000m was very important for me as representing my country means a lot to me. But it did mean that I had to sit out the rest of the track season as we did not want to make the injury worse,” said Cheptegei.
Read also: In Photos: Team SA end Marathon Champs on a high
Cheptegei is keen to defend his title in Durban.
“I have been away from racing for far too long and cannot wait to run in Durban. I want to keep my title and believe I can run a really fast time in Durban, now that I know the route. South Africa has been a happy hunting ground for me in my last two visits,” said Cheptegei.
The 22-year-old is looking to improve on his 27:28 which is also a lifetime best.
“My training has been good. The injury is now healed. I know the route. I know the conditions and am expecting a good race. My time from last year is in danger as I want to go around 27:20 or better, so over the next six weeks I will be sharpening up for Durban.”
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