Uganda’s leading telecommunications company MTN Uganda and 10,000m World record holder Joshua Cheptegei have signed a one year sponsorship deal to aid the latter in fostering talent all over the country.

MTN specifically allocated UGX 100 million towards the Joshua Cheptegei Foundation that is working to develop and provide a platform for young and rising athletes from the Sebei region.

The funds will be used to facilitate academic scholarships for the best performing athletes and community programs, especially entrepreneurial skills training.

A performance-based sponsorship package for Cheptegei was attached to the deal if he wins Olympic Gold in Tokyo or any other medal at the prestigious event this year.

The deal also encompassed a performance incentive for any other world records that Cheptegei breaks. MTN Chief Executive Officer, Wim Vanhelleputte said;

“We are very proud and honoured to announce this sponsorship deal for Joshua. At MTN, this is the next best thing we can do after several years of investment in developing athletics talent and sport in this country.

Through the renowned MTN Kampala Marathon and other Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) programs, MTN has supported the sport for over 15 years. And it is paying off. What Joshua is doing for the country is awesome and deserves to be recognized especially by his country.

Cheptegei expressed his gratitude towards MTN Uganda for the boost towards his Olympic dream.

“I am really honoured and want to take this opportunity to thank MTN for this partnership. This is a big motivation towards achieving my dream to become an Olympic champion.”

Cheptegei rose to the top step in 2014 when he won the World Junior Championships in Eugene, USA before becoming Africa Junior Champion the following year.

Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic that led to the suspension of global sport, Cheptegei ruled the track & field. He broke Kenenisa Bekele’s sixteen-year-old 5000m World Record by setting a new 12:35.36 for which MTN Uganda rewarded Cheptegei with a big cheque.

He later set a new 10000m World Record of 21:11.00 at the NN Valencia World Record Day. And just last month, Cheptegei defended his Monaco Run title to continue his dominance over the discipline.

Ugandan long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei picked some lessons from the Coronavirus-blighted 2020.

From his travel being hampered by the Coronavirus outbreak in Europe to a lockdown in Uganda by President Museveni borders and Entebbe airport closed, the athlete witnessed one of the most challenging periods. 

Cheptegei had to re-adjust his schedule with uncertainty hovering over competitions all over the world.

He started with the 5 km Herculis in Monaco setting a new world record if 12:51 – a 27 second improvement from Kenyan Rhonex Kipruto’s 13:18.

The Kapchorwa athlete then ran 12:35:36 to break Kenenisa Bekele’s 5000m world record set in 2004 at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on August 14th.

He later also smashed Bekele’s 15-year old 10,000m world record of 2005 at the NN Valencia World Record Day, Estadio de Atletismo del Turia, Valencia on October 7th.

Talking up the lessons he has learned with World Athletics, Cheptegei said; “This year has really taught me one special thing which is to persist amidst adversity, difficulty.

“Resilience is the key to becoming better and stronger. In life it is through challenges that you become more stronger, so when I did Valencia 10,000m, I still wanted to discover the challenge in the World Half Marathon.

“So many people thought I was doing it for fun ….despite having not trained for it.”

Ugandan long distance runner Jacob Kiplimo has been listed among the 100 athletes to watch ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

World Athletics curated the list that mentioned Kiplimo who has “fascinating” story just like the other 99 athletes that will be “worth following as the Games draw ever closer.”

Kiplimo “struck gold in a national record of 58:49” and the “performances underlined Kiplimo’s versatility, having previously won global medals at cross country and on the track.”

He missed the 2019 World Championships due to injury, but rebounded in 2020 to set PBs of 7:26.64 for 3000m and 12:48.63 for 5000m.

The 2020 World Half Marathon champion was listed alongside Ethiopians Roza Dereje, 5K and 10K specialist Selemon Barega, Kenyans Hellen Obiri and Valencia Marathon winner Peres Jepchirchir among others.

Uganda long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei is pleased to have claimed the honours in the men’s 3000m at the Ostrava Golden Spike Meet.

The 24-year-old had hoped he would smash Daniel Komen’s World Record of 7:20.67 – a milestone that has stood for nearly 25 years – since September 1, 1996.

However, the record was not destroyed despite the Kapchorwa-based athlete posting a personal best of 07:33:24 before USA’s Paul Chelimo of USA (07:41:69) and Ugandan Oscar Chelimo (7:43:00).

“The dream continues, not the result I wanted, but happy for the win!! Looking forward to the next races. #silverbackdreams ? Special thanks to @stewy_mac3 & @richarddouma for setting the pace ?,” he posted on his Instagram page.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPGt_DVn9WD/

Golden Spike Ostrava 2021 – Men’s 3000m – Race Results

Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 07:33.24 – WL, PB
Paul Chelimo (USA) 07:41.69 – SB
Oscar Chelimo (UGA) 07:43.00 – PB
Seán Tobin (IRL) 07:49.37 – SB
Isaac Kimeli (BEL) 07:49.47 – SB
Andreas Vojta (AUT) 07:49.75 – PB
Abdessamad Oukhelfen (ESP) 08:07.68 – SB
Vojtěch Král (CZE) 08:20.61 – SB

Ugandan long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei is targeting Gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Kapchorwa-based athlete revealed his ambitions after breaking the World records for both distances at the Monaco Diamond League meeting and NN Valencia World Record Day respectively.

Cheptegei wants to walk in the same path of legendary status just like Britain’s Mo Farah who also achieved the double at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics.

“It would be a mountain to climb, but the challenge is up to me,” he told BBC World Service Sport. “It is demanding a lot, in terms of racing and mindset but I want to give myself a try to win both gold medals.”

At the Rio Olympics, Cheptegei crossed eighth and sixth in the 5,000m and 10,000m races respectively. “It would be really amazing to win the double, but if I win gold in the 10,000m I would still be grateful,” Cheptegei added.

Ugandan runner Joshua Cheptegei has revealed how he really wants to achieve his dream of becoming the greatest distance athlete of all time.

The 5000m World record holder spoke about his ambitions head of the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics with Runner’s World, saying his goal is to win both the 5000m and 10,000m at the events.

“My dream growing up was to be in the class of the greatest distance runners of all time and the only way to do that was not only to win the world championship medals, the Olympic gold medals, and the cross country and half marathon championships, but it was to break one of the world records.

“Naturally with a lot of talent, I see a lot of ambitions for me for the future. Mine is just to make history and live up to the dream of becoming the greatest distance athlete of all time. That is absolutely what I’m heading for.”

“[The plan is to] run in Tokyo at the right moment, be in the right shape, and, of course, expect to win the titles,” he added.

He added; “I’m seeing my body respond positively in training, really getting stronger in training and racing, so absolutely, I’m looking forward to doing a double.…

“I really want to continue running on the track for the next four to five years from now, maybe until the next Olympics [in 2024]. Then I take it from there and maybe perhaps move to the marathon.”

MTN Uganda together with it’s partners Huawei, Stanbic Bank, New Vision, Rwenzori and Spedag Interfreight have announced the 2021 edition of the MTN Kampala Marathon.

The MTN Kampala Marathon, now in it’s 16th year has been a mainstay on the Ugandan sports calendar giving participants “A GOOD REASON TO RUN” because apart from running for health and fitness, they get to contribute towards a community benefiting project. The proceeds from this year’s marathon will go towards improving maternal health services across the country.

The wheelchair race that’s previously happened a week before will now happen on the same day as the main race to foster inclusiveness for all.

Two years ago, we introduced the regional races as a way of expanding the running experience to the regions along with the positive impact it has in the hosting community. Last year, we had races in Mbale, Gulu and Mbarara. These races were very successful and this year we will be taking the regional races to Soroti, Arua and Makasa on Sunday 3rd, 10th and 16th November respectively leading up to the main event in Kampala on Sunday 24th November 2021. All regional runs will be 10km road races and the proceeds will be utilized to improve maternal health services n the same communities.

80% of the maternal and newborn deaths are preventable with the implementation of evidence based high impact interventions like those that the proceeds from the MTN marathon 2019 will be dedicated to implementing.
That’s a good reason to run.
As MTN continues to do good through connecting people, businesses, nations and communities, we believe that the MTN marathon too is playing its role in connecting and uniting Ugandans to causes that have made a difference in the lives of thousands (if not millions).

Get Started

The 2021 edition of the MTN Marathon will be held on Sunday 24th November starting at the Kololo independence grounds with runners participating in either of 4 categories including; the full marathon (24Km), half marathon (21Km), 10Km race, and 5Km wheelchair race/fun run.
Dial *165*77# to register for your kit today. You will be charged 23,000 Shs.

Prizes

New this year is the Shs 25 million kitty that we have put up for anyone that beats the 42 Km record set last year by Joshua Chemutai (men) of 2:18:27 and Lydia Nasimiyu Wafula (women) of 2:44:59.
This kitty will be shared equally by the two if we get a winner from both sides.