Durban, South Africa — Ugandan long-distance running star Joshua Cheptegei has expressed gratitude after securing victory at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Durban 10K, describing the win as an encouraging sign that his speed over shorter distances remains intact as he prepares for upcoming half marathon and marathon races.
Cheptegei, a multiple Olympic and World Champion, won the race in a commanding time of 27:19, setting a new course record and recording the second-fastest 10km ever run on South African soil. The Ugandan broke away from the field in the latter stages of the race to secure victory ahead of Kenya’s Salem Kibet and fellow Ugandan Emmanuel Kibet.
Following the race, Cheptegei took to social media to reflect on the achievement.
“I am grateful to God for today’s win again in my second road race in South Africa. It’s good to see that the speed for the shorter distance is still there,” he wrote on X.
The 29-year-old athlete acknowledged the challenges that come with elite competition but emphasised the importance of perseverance.
“The sport always has lots of setbacks, but what is very important is never giving up,” he said.
Cheptegei revealed that the Durban victory forms part of his broader preparations for longer-distance events, including a half marathon scheduled in two months’ time and a full marathon later in the season.
“I will build on this for my next half marathon in two months’ time and later the full marathon. It’s always good to see that everything from fueling, nutrition and pre-race preparation is going very well — small but great ingredients for great results coming soon,” he added.
The Durban triumph marked a successful return to a race that has played a significant role in Cheptegei’s career. Organizers noted that the Ugandan delivered one of the finest 10km road-running performances ever witnessed in South Africa, taking control of the race early before surging clear of his rivals.
Prior to the race, Cheptegei had spoken of his ambition to become the first athlete to run a sub-27-minute 10km on African soil. Although he narrowly missed that milestone, his performance reaffirmed his status as one of the world’s leading distance runners as he continues his transition toward the half marathon and marathon disciplines.
The victory provides another boost for Ugandan athletics, with Cheptegei signaling that bigger goals remain ahead as he pursues success on the road-running circuit.
“Thank you all and see you soon,” he concluded, signing off with his trademark hashtag, #Silverback.
