by RBR AdminThe NN Valencia World record Day was succesful on all counts.
Letsenbet Gidey set a 5000m world record just prior to the 10,000m attempt, with an excellent 14:06.65!
Joshua Cheptegai had already set world records at 15k (41:05, in 2018), 10k on 1 December 2019 (26:38, which has been broken by Rhonex Kipruto, with 26:24), 5k on the roads (12:51 on 16 February 2020).
On 13 August, Joshua Cheptegai added a track record with his 12:35.36. His breaking the world record at 5000m may have been harder than his new 10,000m attempt.
Joshua Cheptegai, photo by NN running team
Joshua Cheptegai made the attempt at the 10,000m on October 7, 2020. Cheptegai had 3 pacemakers. One took him by Kilometer 1 in 2:37.9. Pacemaker 2 takes him through kilometers 2 in 5:15, 3k in 7:52.
Pacemaker 3 was Nicholas Kemeli leads at 4k in 10:29. Kemeli lead a relaxed Cheptegai at 5000m in 13:07.73.
So, over the last 12.5 laps, Joshua Cheptegai experienced what announcer Rob Walker noted as the “loneliness of the long distance runner”, a homage to the novella by Alan Sillitoe.
Cheptegai did it his way. His last, lonely 12.5 laps was quicker than the beginning 12.5 laps. To get closer than anyone had in the last 15 years, Joshua Cheptegai built himself into scary fitness level. With the help of his coach, and his team, Joshua Cheptegai, in the modern plague, showed that he is without peer.
Does an athlete at this level hurt like us humans do?
I recall the late Australian distance great, Ron Clarke, who once noted, in his writings, that slow races hurt more than fast races.
Joshua Cheptegai put it all on the line. He battled the world record by Kenenisa Bekele (26:17.53) all 25 laps, and he set a new world record.
And Joshua Cheptegai just completed the fastest 10,000m race ever!
On 7 October 2020, Joshua Cheptegai, using 3 pace makers up to 5000m, took on Kenenisa Bekele’s 10,000m world record (26:17.53), one kilometer at a time.
In kilometer 1, Kenenisa Bekele has gone 2:39.9, Joshua Cheptegai went 2:37.9.
In kilometer 2, Kenenisa Bekele went 2:35.9, Joshua Cheptegai went 2:37.1.
In kilometer 3, Kenenisa Bekele had gone 2:37.6, Joshua Cheptegai went 2:37.7.
In kilometer 4, Kenenisa Beele had gone 2:37.0, Joshua Cheptegai went 2:37.1.
In Kilometer 5, Kenenisa Bekele had gone 2:39.2, with Joshua Cheptegai at 2:37.9.
Nicholas Kimeli hit the 5000m at 13:07.73.
In Kilometer 6, Kenenisa Bekele had gone 2:35.5 and Joshua Cheptegai had gone 2:37.3.
In Kilometer 7, Kenenisa Bekele had gone 2:39.3, Joshua Cheptegai had gone 2:37.0.
In Kilometer 8, Kenenisa Bekele had gone 2:40.7, Joshua Cheptegai had gone 2:37.4.
In Kilometer 9, Kenenisa Bekele had gone 2:40.5, Joshua Cheptegai had gone 2:37.3.
In Kilometer 10, Kenenisa Bekele had gone 2:32.3, Joshua Cheptegai completed the 10,000m with 2:34.3.
Kenenisa Bekele, 26:17.53, Joshua Cheptegai, 26:11.00.
The crown👑finally is taken.
Thank you NN Valencia WR day.
It’s been a tough moment but a brave lion’s heart and determination saves the day.
What a fight!!
a night!! with a 10,000m W.R 26:11
Thanks @NNRunningTeam @VCRunning @GlobalSportsCom
Thank you all for the amazing love pic.twitter.com/cVA7rJ1wpZ— Joshua Cheptegei 🇺🇬🇺🇬 🥇🥇 (@joshuacheptege1) October 8, 2020
Joshua Cheptegei destroys world 10,000m record
Joshua Cheptegei toasted yet another landmark moment in his glittering 2020 season by smashing Kenenisa Bekele’s world 10,000m record by more than six-and-a-half seconds with a dazzling display at the NN Valencia World Record Day.
Joshua Cheptegai (en route with Nicholas Chemeli), photo by NN running team
The 24-year-old Ugandan superstar gave another glorious demonstration of his stellar endurance running gifts by completing the 25-lap distance in a time of 26:11.00 to erase Bekele’s 15-year-old mark of 26:17.53 from the record books.
The one-off meet was organised by the NN Running Team, Global Sports Communication and SD Correcaminos as a direct response to Joshua’s outstanding current form.
In August, Joshua sliced 1.99 seconds from Kenenisa’s world 5000m record, clocking a stunning 12:35.36 in Monaco, and on a hot and humid night at the Turia Stadium he added the world 10,000m record to his increasingly impressive CV.
Joshua Cheptegai 10,000m Wr, 26:11.00, photo by NN running team
Paced through to halfway in 13:07.73 and further aided by Wavelight Technology in the second half of the race, the World 10,000m champion ticked off the laps at a relentless 62-second pace to claim another slice of history.
Having achieved the world record mark he now joins some of the all-time greats to have held ownership of the world 10,000m record such as Emil Zatopek, Haile Gebrselassie and Bekele.
Joshua Cheptagai, achieving the goal, photo by NN running team
“It is a great moment for me to have broken the world record,” said Cheptegei, who also holds the world 5km and 15km road records. “I wanted to show the sports lovers of the world that the track is exciting. I wanted to lift the expectations of the Valencia World Record Day and I am pleased to have fulfilled my dream.”
The crown👑finally is taken.
Thank you NN Valencia WR day.
It’s been a tough moment but a brave lion’s heart and determination saves the day.
What a fight!!
a night!! with a 10,000m W.R 26:11
Thanks @NNRunningTeam @VCRunning @GlobalSportsCom
Thank you all for the amazing love pic.twitter.com/cVA7rJ1wpZ— Joshua Cheptegei 🇺🇬🇺🇬 🥇🥇 (@joshuacheptege1) October 8, 2020
