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Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei is poised for a second marathon stint at the Tokyo Marathon.
Ugandan distance running sensation Joshua Cheptegei is set to make his second-ever marathon appearance at the Tokyo Marathon on March 2.
The Olympic gold medalist and Uganda’s most decorated distance runner in history is stepping onto the marathon scene once again, following his success on the track.
Cheptegei cemented his legacy at the 2024 Paris Olympics by setting an Olympic record in the 10,000m final, clocking an astonishing 26:43.14.
The Ugandan edged out Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi, who finished second, and Grant Fisher of the United States, who took third place.
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Now, with Olympic glory behind him, the double-world record holder in the 5000m and 10,000m is shifting his focus to the marathon distance.
Despite his dominance on the track, Cheptegei’s marathon credentials are still developing.
His only official marathon time was recorded at the 2023 Valencia Marathon, where he finished in 37th place with a time of 2:08:59.
This time ranks him at the bottom among the elite men’s field set to compete in Tokyo, a stark contrast to his reputation in shorter distances.
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Leading the Tokyo Marathon field is Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, who holds the fastest personal best in the lineup at 2:02:16.
Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta follows closely with a time of 2:02:38, while his compatriot Birhanu Legese ranks third with a best of 2:02:48.
Cheptegei will need to significantly improve his marathon time to challenge these experienced long-distance road runners.
Cheptegei has acknowledged that transitioning to marathon racing is an entirely new challenge for him. Speaking to Olympics.com ahead of his Valencia debut, he reflected on the shift:
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“It’s been 10 years of running internationally, 10 years of high level. To try to switch on to the marathon is actually a new venture, which I am really excited about and looking forward to seeing what the roads can offer me as a new challenge," he said via Olympics.com
He also highlighted the lessons he has learned from his first marathon attempt,stating, “It's exactly because of the marathon that I really learned a lot of things, especially on hydration. I've learned about diet and hydration and then also the mileage."
"The long runs used to be tiresome for me. But now I'm learning to accept that it's going to be my part of life in the future," he added.
As Cheptegei prepares for his Tokyo Marathon challenge, all eyes will be on whether he can translate his unparalleled endurance and speed from the track to the roads as he faces stiff competition from seasoned marathoners.
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