Joshua Cheptegei Reveals Big Marathon Plans After Conquering Durban City Race

Ugandan long-distance sensation Joshua Cheptegei delivered a masterful performance to win the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K in South Africa on Sunday, further cementing his successful transition from track to road racing.

Cheptegei took control of the race from the outset, crossing the finish line in a swift 27 minutes and 19 seconds. He finished well ahead of Kenya's Salem Kibet, who clocked 27:29, while fellow Ugandan Emmanuel Kibet secured third place with a time of 27:32.

This victory marks another significant step in Cheptegei's road-running career. The 29-year-old recently concluded his illustrious track career after winning the 10,000m gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Still the world record holder in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, Cheptegei has now fully shifted his focus to road events as he prepares to compete in half marathons and marathons.

In Durban, Cheptegei asserted his dominance early, leading the pack and hitting the halfway mark in 13:48. He continued to build his lead over the final kilometers, with his winning time now ranking among the fastest ever run on South African soil for the 10km distance.

Following the race, Cheptegei described the win as a key milestone in his preparation for longer distances.

"I am grateful to God for today’s win again in my second road race in South Africa," Cheptegei stated on social media. "It’s good to see that the speed for the shorter distance is still there."

The Ugandan star also reflected on the nature of elite competition, emphasising the importance of perseverance. "The sport always has lots of setbacks, but what is very important is never giving up!!" he added.

Cheptegei revealed his upcoming plans, which include a half marathon in two months, followed by another full marathon as he continues his adaptation to the demands of road racing. "I will build on this for my next half marathon," he explained. "It's always good to see that everything from fueling to pre-race nutrition is going very well—small but great ingredients for great results coming soon."

In the women's event, Kenya swept the podium. Doreen Cherop overtook pre-race favorite Brenda Jepchirchir in the final stages to claim victory. Jepchirchir finished second in 30:52, while 3,000m steeplechase world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech took third place with a time of 31:25.