As Joshua Cheptegei embarks on the final weeks of his preparations for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, there is a huge sense of optimism within the camp of the two-time reigning 10,000m champion that he could be in his best shape when it matters most.

Cheptegei has struggled to reach top form since winning the 10,000m world title in Oregon last year, in part due to injury. But there are signs that he is close to his best, such as his blistering performance in the Lausanne Diamond League three weeks ago showed.

Cheptegei clocked 12:41.61 to finish second behind Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi (12:40.45), both men accounting for the two fastest times in the 5000m this year. Notably, Cheptegei’s time is less than six seconds outside his all-time best, which doubles as the world record.

If that is not stunning enough, the fact that Cheptegei feels as good as he felt when he set the record three years ago should be.

“He told me after the race that he is at the level where he can run the world record again,” Cheptegei’s coach Addy Ruiter told New Vision Sports.

Ruiter agrees

“His level is high,” says Ruiter. “He is close to the level that he had in 2020 when he was running the world records, otherwise you cannot run five seconds from your world record. The first two kilometers of the race in Lausanne was totally not fast.”

But are Cheptegei’s 5000m performances a reliable yardstick for his 10,000m prospects? Sure, says Ruiter.

“From experience, Joshua is a better 10,000m runner than a 5000m runner,” explains Ruiter.  “So when his level in the 5000m is like this, then you know for sure that he is very good in the 10,000. The 5000m is always much more tactical.”

Cheptegei is bidding to win a third consecutive 10,000m title, which would make him level with Mo Farah and one shy of Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie.