Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei and Sarah Chelangat clinch titles | More sports News

Bengaluru, April 27 (IANS) It was a day of delight for the Ugandan runners, as Sarah Chelangat and Joshua Cheptegei took home the top prize in their respective sections in TCS World 10K, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, held here on Sunday. Incidentally, they were the first athletes from their country to take home the World 10K titles, along with a prize of USD 26,000 each.

Bengaluru: Race Day on Sunday morning was pleasantly cool due to the early start times, with temperatures around 23 degrees Celsius. However, high humidity levels, recorded at approximately 85 percent, quickly offset this comfort. The conditions hindered the potential for record breaking performances in both the men’s and women’s elite races.
Ultimately, Ugandan Olympic Champion Joshua Cheptegei and for mer Youth Olympic Champion Sarah Chelangat each secured the winner’s prize of $26,000 at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru. For Cheptegei, the race unfolded as expected, culminating in an exciting finish on Cubbon Road.
He shifted gears and fended off a strong challenge in the last two kilometres from young Eritrean Saymon Tesfagiorgis (27:55) to win in 27 minutes, 53 seconds. The event record remained intact at 27:38, as the multiple Olympic and World Champion charged to breast the ribbon even as the Open 10K runners, numbering more than 20,000, got into stride for a test of stamina and endurance.
Abhishek, Sanjivani clock best timings for India
Abhishek Pal and Sanjivani Jadhav finished on top among Indians. Abhishek, an Asian championship bronze medalist in 2023, improved his 10K best to 29:12 to finish seventh overall. The highly experienced Sanjivani, who secured two gruelling distance running double in Kochi, was a bit slower than her last year’s winning time in Bengaluru while retaining the top spot among women in 34:16.