Joshua Cheptegei guns for 10,000m world record in NN Valencia World Record Day on October 7
Valencia Ciudad del Running will once again be the epicentre of World Athletics with the celebration of the NN Valencia World Record Day, a unique day in which the athlete Joshua Cheptegei, recent world record man in the 5,000 m, will try to beat the best time in the history of the 10,000 metres by coming in under the current record 26:17.53.
The event, organised by SD Correcaminos and the Nationale-Nederlanden Running Team, will take place on 7 October on the athletics track at Túria Stadium in Section III of Turia Gardens, and it will have all the security measures required by the situation at the time the event is held. This athletic event is promoted by The Trinidad Alfonso Foundation through its Valencia Ciudad del Running project and is one of the #Eactivatesport strategies that the foundation has launched to promote the reactivation of sporting events in Valencia.
Joshua Cheptegei, a member of the NN Running Team, now holds all the records after breaking the world track record for 5,000 metres during the last Diamond League event in Monaco with a time of 12:35.36. A title he snatched from no less a figure than Kenenisa Bekele, who had held it since 2004 (12:37.35).
Cheptegei, excited about the opportunity to break the record
“I am very excited to be given the opportunity to target the 10,000 m world record”, explains Cheptegei. “As my performance in Monaco showed, I am in outstanding form, so I would like to make the most of my current shape by attacking the 10,000 m world record. Kenenisa’s 10,000 m world record is one of the toughest in the books, but my training continues to go well and this gives me real confidence I can set another world record”, he added.
Cheptegei has also set the 5K road record (12:51) and he knows what it feels like to break a world record in Valencia, as he did on 1 December last year in the Valencia 10K Trinidad Alfonso, when he stopped the clock at 26:38. Now he will swap the blue platform for the blue tartan of the ciudad del running to chase the track 10,000 m record, which is also held by Bekele with a time of 26:17.53 (2005).
“I have many happy memories in Valencia having set the world 10 km road record there last year in the Valencia 10K Trinidad Alfonso, so hopefully we can once again create something truly special in Valencia, where running plays such an important role”, added the Ugandan.
Meanwhile, Kenenisa Bekele, the current owner of the world record, has said he is delighted with Cheptegei’s goal: “I was delighted that the record went to Joshua, one of my NN Running Team mates. He is an outstanding talent, who is clearly in great form and I wish him all the best in pursuit of the 10,000 m world record in Valencia”, said Bekele.
Valencian presence in the Regional Championship
In addition to this event, the NN Valencia World Record Day will also serve as a Regional 10,000 metre Championship, with several heats for Valencian athletes with a minimum time set by the Valencian Community Athletics Federation, for both men and women.
