10,000 metres, Men

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei was the world record holder at both 5,000 and 10,000 metres, had won this event at the 2019, 2022, and 2023 World Championships, and was the silver medalist at Tokyo 2020. He was expected to be challenged by the threesomes from Kenya and Ethiopia, but Cheptegei was the favorite.

The three Ethiopians – Berihu Aregawi, Yomif Kejelcha, and Selemon Barega – took the pace out fast, passing 5,000 metres in 13:23.07. At 20 laps, 13 runners remained in contention as the pace slowed dramatically, and Canada’s Moh Ahmed took the lead, although Kejelcha passed him shortly thereafter. Cheptegei finally moved up to the leaders as they approached the last kilometre and he moved to the front at 9,400 metres.

Cheptegei led at the bell, followed closely by Kejelcha, Aregawi, and Ahmed, with Grant Fisher (USA) and Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) just behind. Nobody could match Cheptegei’s speed on the final lap as he won relatively easily. Fisher moved past Ahmed, Kejelcha, and Aregawi on the final bend, although Aregawi closed fastest for the silver medal, Fisher behind him by only 2/100ths of a second.

It was the fastest mass 10,000 ever run, with 13 runners breaking 27 minutes, and seven under 26:45. Cheptegei’s time of 26:43.14 shattered the Olympic record of 27:01.17, set by Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) at Beijing in 2008.