December 14, 2020
1 min read

Cheptegei, Gidey Get Their Long Distance Records Ratified

Ugandan long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei’s 10,000m world record and the 5,000m record of Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, which were set earlier this year, have been officially ratified.

Gidey’s 5,000m mark of 14:06.62 and Cheptegei’s 10,000m performance of 26:11.00 were both set at the aptly named ‘NN Valencia World Record Day’ on October 7.

Gidey went first, producing a stunning run that clipped more than four seconds from the previous record set by Tirunesh Dibaba 12 years earlier. A few minutes after the 22-year-old crossed the line, Cheptegei took his turn, churning out 25 laps of the track in an average of less than 63 seconds apiece to better Kenenisa Bekele’s 15-year-old benchmark by more than six seconds. The records for those two events had never been broken on the same day.

Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey

The two-race meeting was held at Valencia’s Turia Stadium before a crowd limited to less than 150 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Cheptegei’s performance had come 54 days after he broke the world 5000m record in Monaco.

“I wanted to show the sports lovers of the world that the track is exciting,” said the 24-year-old, who became the 10th man to hold the 5,000m and 10,000m world record concurrently, as per a World Athletics media release.

Alluding to the coronavirus pandemic, Cheptegei said, “In this difficult situation, I hope things like this can still give us joy and some hope for tomorrow.”

“I have been dreaming about this (setting a world record) for six years,” said Gidey, who hadn’t won a 5000m race since 2016. “I am very happy now,” he added.

Also Read: Drawn Warm Up Game Boosts Team India’s Confidence

Previous Story

‘World’s Largest’ Scooter Factory To Be Set Up In TN By Ola

Next Story

New South Wales lifts Work from home order

Latest from Sport

Spin Wizard Ashwin Calls Time 

Ashwin ends his career with 537 wickets at average of 24 in 106 Tests and becoming India’s second leading wicket-taker after legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble…reports Asian Lite News    Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran

Chhetri Does It Again 

Chhetri inspired the Blues to clinch all three points in this edition of the Southern Rivalry as he scored thrice and at 40 years and 126 days, became the oldest hat-trick scorer

Boxing Champ To Fuel Muslim Aid 

Muslim Aid Expands UK Initiatives for 2024 with Focus on Knife Crime, Homelessness, and Refugee Support. It Teams Up with Inspired Capital Sports and Champion Boxer Hamza Uddin to Strengthen Its Efforts 

Rohit in Middle, Rahul Leads Off 

Rohit noted that Rahul, who scored 26 off 74 balls and looked comfortable as an opener in Perth, and Jaiswal, gave him confidence to keep them as openers for the pink-ball game

India Stuns Pakistan, Retains Junior Title 

India has now won this tournament for a record five times, including their previous triumphs in 2023, 2015, 2008 and 2004…reports Asian Lite News  Araijeet Singh Hundal was the star performer with
Go toTop