22 August 2021 | Athletics

Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei claimed victory in the Men's 2 Miles race at the Eugene meeting of the Diamond League on Saturday.

In the battle of Olympic gold medalists, 5000m winner Cheptegei defeated Selemon Barega (the 10000m champ), running a world-leading time of 8:09.55 to beat the Ethiopian who came home in 8:09.82.

"It feels so good to come back and run 2-mile in Oregon. It really means a lot to me to win here in Oregon and it will always be in my heart," Cheptegei said in the aftermath of the race.

Paul Chelimo of the USA was timed in 8:09.83 for third place to win the mini-battle of bronze medalists as Jacob Kiplimo settled for fourth in 8:10.16, a personal best for the 20-year-old.

How other Ugandans fared

In the Women's 3000m steeplechase, Peruth Chemutai finished seventh in 9:10.87. Two of the six athletes ahead of her ran personal best times while three ran their season-best. Norah Jeruto who didn’t make the powerful Kenyan Olympics team raced away to a world-leading time of 8:53.65 and was followed by Courtney Frerichs who ran an American record and personal best of 8:57.77. Kenya’s Hyvin Kiyeng, a bronze medalist in Tokyo, finished in 9:00.05 for third place.

Halima Nakaayi came sixth in the Women's 800m recording a time of 1:58.78. American teenage sensation Athing Mu was at her all-time best, lowering her own national record to 1:55.04 in a race she won by well over two seconds as countrymate Kate Grace (1:57.60) edged Jamaica’s Natoya Goule (1:57.71) for second.

Winnie Nanyondo came fourth in the Women's 1500m in 4:00.72. Faith Kipyegon of Kenya ran by herself for a huge victory in a meet record 3:53.23 to win by over six seconds. Australia’s Linden Hall (3:59.73) beat American Josette Norris (4:00.07) for second place.

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