Cheptegei targets 10,000m world record in Valencia

Following his 5,000m world record-breaking run at the Stade Louis 11 during the Monaco Diamond League last month, Joshua Cheptegei is determined to break even the 10,000m one.

Cheptegei has been invited for the Valencia Ciudad de Running race on October 7, where he will have an opportunity to build on the series of his breakthrough performances.

"I'm really happy to announce the NN Valencia World Record Day. On October 7, I will go for the 10,000m World Record. Many thanks to @NNRunningTeam and the city of Valencia @VCRunning for organizing this great event," Cheptegei tweeted.

He will again have to run under 26:17.53 to beat Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele's record over the distance.

Cheptegei's 5,000m world record-breaking run at the Stade Louis 11 during the Monaco Diamond League last month, won him the World Athletics Athlete of the Month recognition

At the first Diamond League event of the year—the 10,000-meter world champion achieved the world record with the help of expert pace-making from Roy Hoornweg, Stephen Kissa, and Matthew Ramsden.

The 5,000-meter world record follows a series of breakthrough performances for Cheptegei in 2019 and 2020, despite the race cancellations caused by the coronavirus outbreak this year.

Cheptegei broke the world record in the 5km run in Monaco on February 16, running 12:51 to obliterate the previous record by 27 seconds. On December 1, 2019, he set a road 10km world record of 26:38 at the 10km Valencia Trinidad Alfonso in Valencia, Spain—though the record was lowered by Rhonex Kipruto on January 12, 2020.