Cheptegei secures maiden European win

By Norman Katende

Leiden Golden Spike

Men 10000m results

1 Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 27:56.26

2 Tom Wiggers (NED) 28:33.74

3 Abdi Ulad Hakin (DEN) 28:39.14

4 Moen Sondre Nordstad (NOR) 28:40.27

5 Pflieger Philipp (GER) 28:40.39

Upcoming long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei opened his European account with a win in the 10000m of the Golden Spike meeting in Leiden, Netherlands on Saturday evening. 

The performance saw him qualify for next month’s IAAF World Junior championships that are due in Oregon, USA.

Cheptegei, who was participating in his second international meet after finishing second at the Bangalore Road Run won the European circuit international meet by running below 28 minutes in the 25-lap race.

He clocked his personal best of 27 minutes 56.26 seconds to easily win after running the last 10 laps alone with little challenge. The time was over two minutes inside the qualifying mark for the Oregon event that stands at 31:29.30.

His would-be-challenger Tom Wiggers came home second, over 35 seconds later as he clocked 28:33.74 with Denmark’s Abdi Ulad Hakin (28:39.14) finishing third.

“He went into the race with a focus of qualifying for the World Junior Championships and he did it. He had a sole run but his time was very good,” said Jurrie Van Der Velden, of Global Sports, the company that is managing most of Uganda’s elite runners.

The Uganda runners have been fixed a number of races, before they enter camp in Kabale for the upcoming international events.

Meanwhile, Dennis Opio has been dropped off the world junior team because of his age.

Opio will be 20 in November and IAAF rules demand that an athlete must be below 20 in the year of competition to be counted as a junior runner.