Rhonex Kipruto holds a new world record

By Guillaume Mahot

Born on October 12, 1999, the Kenyan Rhonex Kipruto, about to hit (only) 21 years old this year, must be the happiest long-distance runner at the moment. As a matter of fact, the youngster respected the tradition of his country in athletics last Sunday by winning the 10 km race in Valencia (Spain), but he did not do that only.

Rhonex Kipruto finished first of the race in 26 minutes and 24 seconds, and then deleted the previous world record from memories, thus becoming the one and only thanks to a new world record established last weekend. Before him, Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) was detaining the best performance on such a race with 26 minutes and 38 seconds. Cheptegei’s achievement had been recorded last December in Valencia as well, and did not last that much actually. Is Rhonex Kipruto going to live the same short period as a world record holder?

For now, the Kenyan new star surely does not care. Already confirmed in athletics and reliable performer despite his young age, Rhonex Kipruto grabbed the bronze medal in the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha (Qatar) when he raced the 10 000 m. Joshua Cheptegei (26,48) and Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia, 26,49) ended up right before him and his time (26,50).

This time in Valencia, Kipruto finished the race before Bernard Kimeli (Kenya, 27,12) and Julien Wanders (Switzerland, 27,13). His compatriot Sheila Chepkirui took the women’s race in 29 minutes and 46 seconds to make Kenya and Africa the big winner of this Valencia event.

Sheila Chepkirui, 29 years old, is not starting in the business. The middle and long-distance runner won several medals and trophies all along her career, such as the World Youth Championships (2005), the African Cross Country Championships and the African Championships (both in 2016). She mainly races the 1500 and 5000 m.

Africa Global News Publication