Cheptegei Wins Gold for Uganda as Selemon Finishes Third in Budapest

Selemon Barega settled for bronze as Joshua Cheptegei successfully defended his world 10000m champion title in Budapest.

The 26-year-old Ugandan victory today is his third consecutive World Athletics Championships gold medal for his country.

This is Cheptegei’s third consecutive World Athletics Championships gold medal for Uganda.

The 26-year-old showed an impressive performance in the final stages of Saturday’s race.

When the bell for the final sounded, he flew out of the leading pack with Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi in front, with 600 meters to go.

Selemon followed him and cut the gap to a meter with 200 meters left. But Cheptegei upped his pace and pulled clear up the home straight to win the race, clocking 27:51.42.

Selemon, who lost his rhythm in the last seconds, was pipped for the Silver on the final line by Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo who finished second in 27:52.60. Selemon took bronze in 27:52.72, followed home by cAregawi, fourth in 27:55.71. 

“I am very excited and proud that I have succeeded in winning my third world title in a row,“ the 5000m and 10,000m record holder Cheptegei said after his victory Saturday. “This might be my last championships on the track. That’s why this gold medal means even more.”

Selemon’s bronze, meanwhile, has brought team Ethiopia’s medal tally at the world athletics championships to four. Gudaf Tsegay stormed to the gold leading an Ethiopian medal sweep in the women’s 10,000m final on Saturday. Letesenbet Gidey and Ejgayehu Taye complete the podium.