- Cheptegei, a double Olympic gold medalist and world record holder, triumphed at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru, clocking 27:53 to claim the title after an 11-year return to the city.
- Jacob Kiplimo made an electrifying marathon debut at the TCS London Marathon, finishing second with a time of 2:03:37, setting a new Ugandan national record.
Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo delivered standout performances at two of the world’s premier races. Cheptegei clinched the men’s title at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2025, while Kiplimo made an electrifying marathon debut at the TCS London Marathon 2025, setting a new national records.
On April 27, 2025, Joshua Cheptegei, the double Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m, returned to Bengaluru after an 11-year hiatus to claim victory in the TCS World 10K.
Clocking an impressive 27:53 on the fast city course, Cheptegei outpaced a competitive field to secure the top prize of USD 26,000. Eritrea’s Saymon Tesfagiorgis followed closely, finishing second in 27:55, with Kenya’s Vincent Langat taking third in the same time.
Reflecting on the race, Cheptegei acknowledged the pressure of being the favorite. “Coming in as the favorite also puts a lot of pressure, especially when you have a lot of experience. If you look at my personal best, I am the fastest on the track, but that was a long time ago. When you look at guys like Vincent, Gabriel, and young boys like Saymon, it’s a tough competition. Besides running for the time, you have to run for the position,” he said post-race.
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Cheptegei also noted the aggressive tactics of younger runners. “I’ve noticed the young boys were very aggressive in the race today. This is world-class running. My advice to younger runners is, patience pays; it may be painful, but it always pays,” he added.
The TCS World 10K Bengaluru, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, attracted a strong lineup, including Cheptegei’s compatriot Stephen Kissa and Ethiopia’s Jenbery Sisay.
The event, held at the Rajendra Sinhji Army Officers’ Institute Cricket Ground, saw over 13,000 participants across categories. Cheptegei’s victory was particularly remarkable, as he marked his return to the city where he made his international debut in 2014, finishing second.
Meanwhile, in London, Jacob Kiplimo announced his arrival on the marathon stage with a sensational performance at the TCS London Marathon on April 27, 2025.
The 24-year-old finished second in his 42km debut, clocking 2:03:37 to set a new Ugandan national record. He trailed only Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe, who won in 2:02:27, in a race billed as one of the fastest in marathon history.
Kiplimo’s preparation for the marathon was intense, with the athlete revealing he ramped up his training to 220km per week, nearly double his usual 120km for shorter distances. “I’ve been doing 220km per week for the marathon. Before, it was around 120km,” he told Athletics Weekly during his buildup.
