Uganda's Cheptegei wins gold at 2018 Commonwealth Games

PIC: Uganda's Cheptegei, Ayeko and Kipyeko finished first, fourth and sixth, respectively. (AFP)

GOLD COAST 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

DAY FOUR

Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei has won the men's 5000m final, clinching gold and Uganda's first medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

A pre-race favourite, Cheptegei ran a tactical race to burst across the finish line with a winning time of 13:50.83 minutes.

The 21-year-old athlete born in the remote village of Kapsewui in Kapchorwa district did well to put Uganda on the medals table on day four of the widely watched competition.

He beat Mohammed Ahmed of Canada (13:52.78) and Kenya's Edward Pingua Zakayo (13:54.06), who settled for silver and bronze, respectively.

Cheptegei, who is no stranger to heroism on the global stage, started off at the back on the Carrara Stadium track, clearly uninterested in the front pack pace.

But, running alongside fellow countrymen Thomas Ayeko and Phillip Kipyeko, Cheptegei kept the leaders on the corner of his eye.

He did not want to give away too much, and only started to build momentum with about four of the 12-and-a-half laps to go.

Cheptegei eventually took the lead after keeping at the back of the pack for much of the race. (AFP)

Ahmed looked determined to present the Ugandan with some stiff challenge. And he did. But with the final bell going, signalling the final lap, Cheptegei had put on his afterburners.

His Canadian challenger was hot on his heels, but Cheptegei was not to be beaten, racing fiercely and coolly past the finish line to claim yet another gold under keen global watch.

Uganda's other interest in the race Ayeko and Kipyeko finished fourth (13:54.78) and sixth (13:59.59), respectively.

It is eight months since Cheptegei won silver at the IAAF World Championships in London.

In 2014, he stamped his authority on the global scene, winning gold at the World Junior Championships in Eugene, USA and also gold at the World University Cross Country Champhionships.

It was a final featuring East African power: three Kenyans and three Ugandans. (AFP)

But there would be only one winner. (AFP)

The Ugandan trio of Ayeko, Cheptegei and Kipyeko. (AFP)

 'Oh yes, I did it again!' (AFP)

The winning trio stood on the podium, proud to be representing their respective countries on the global scene: Canada, Uganda and Kenya.  (AFP)

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