Cheptegei pockets Shs263m for gold, Kiplimo Shs82m for bronze

July 18, 2022 10:12 AM

RADP / Pulse Uganda > Sports > Athletics

Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo are laughing all the way to the bank!

Cheptegei has bagged $70,000 (Shs263m) and Kiplimo (Shs82m) while silver-medalists Shs131m.

The Ugandan greats put up a very well calculated tactical performance at the World Athletics Championships 10000m finals in Eugene, Oregon, USA that saw Jacob Cheptegei defend his 10,000m world title.

As the say revenge is a dish best served cold, Cheptegei and Kiplimo eclipsed Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega who stealthily ran off with Olympics gold medal in Tokyo to deny him a podium finish.

Cheptegei joins the exclusive league of Ethiopian greats Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele and British track and field legend Mo Farah - the only humans to have won back-to-back world 10,000m championships.

READ: Joshua Cheptegei wins 10,000m gold , Kiplimo bronze

For the victory, Cheptegei has bagged $70,000 (Shs263m) and Kiplimo (Shs82m) while silver-medalists Shs131m.

Cheptegei clocked 27:27:43 while Mburu finished at 27:27:90 and Kiplimo 27:27:97. The Ugandan trio effectively out-stretched the Kenyans and Ethiopians who were closely following in the race.

Pace-setter Stephen Kissa, as he did in the Olympics, sacrificed himself for the team and finished last in the race.

Cheptegei will return in the 5000m finals alongside Kiplimo’s brother Oscar Chelimo.