Joshua Cheptegei won a pulsating 10,000m title on the opening night of athletics at the Stade de France. Making his move with 500m to go, the Ugandan stormed home in an Olympic record of 26:43.14. Hot on his heels, Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia took silver in 26:43.44 as Grant Fisher earned bronze for the United States in 26:43.46.
The race was made by Ethiopians but won by a Ugandan with Aregawi, Yomif Kejelcha and defending champion Selemon Barega swapping the lead throughout as they continually took turns to surge to the front.
It turned the race into an exciting spectacle but Cheptegei and Fisher in particular played a smarter game, sitting in behind, hugging the kerb and avoiding any unnecessary bursts of pace.
To add insult to injury, not only did Ethiopia lose its Olympic title but the Olympic record held by Kenenisa Bekele of 27:01.47 also fell as the first 13 men home beat his 2008 mark. Perhaps the veteran runner will gain some revenge for his country in the marathon in a few days’ time.
This was not simply a battle between Uganda, Ethiopia and Fisher, though. Mo Ahmed of Canada ran a superb race to finish fourth in 26:43.79 as he missed out on a podium place by less than half a second.
Bernard Kibet and Daniel Mateiko of Kenya placed fifth and 11th respectively.
Kejelcha and Barega wound up sixth and seventh. Both have fast finishes, especially the world indoor mile record-holder Kejelcha, so why they felt the urge to push the pace so erratically in the opening stages is a mystery.
In ninth and 10th, Thierry Ndikumwenayo set a Spanish record of 26:49.49 and Adriaan Wildschutt ran a South African record of 26:50.64.
A word of praise, too, for Nico Young, as the 21-year-old American hung in gamely at the tail-end of the lead pack until the very latter stages and was rewarded with a sub-27-minute time of 26:58.11, just ahead of Jimmy Gressier, who punched the air as he crossed the line in 13th in a French record of 26:58.67.
The crowd in the Stade de France appreciated his efforts, too, with both Gressier and fellow countryman Yann Schrub getting huge cheers during the race, although Schrub dropped out at halfway.
“I am so excited. It took a lot of courage,” said Cheptegei. “It’s really amazing, this one was still missing. Three times world champion, now I can add the Olympic title to this. This one is for my family. Success is not only for me but for my family, my coach, my management. The whole team around me. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Source: AW
