NN Valencia World Record Day: Joshua Cheptegei to assault on the world 10,000m record Valencia on Wednesday October 7

Posted by adefrutos on October 2, 2020 in trail running spain | Leave a comment

Joshua Cheptegei to assault on the world 10,000m record Valencia on Wednesday October 7. Joshua Cheptegei, the hottest property in global endurance running, hopes to create another magical moment in his rising career as he plans an assault on the world 10,000m record at the NN Valencia World Record Day on Wednesday October 7 at Turia Stadium in Valencia, Spain.

Joshua Cheptegei to assault on the world 10,000m record Valencia on Wednesday October 7

Organized by the NN Running Team, Global Sports Communication and SD Correcaminos, the one-off event aims to capitalize on the Ugandan’s stunning recent form, which last month saw him lower Kenenisa Bekele’s 5000m world record in Monaco. In Valencia, Joshua will be targeting the stunning mark of 26:17.53 set by Kenenisa in Brussels 15 years ago – the longest standing men’s 10,000m world record in history.

As a further measure of the quality of the world 10,000m record, no athlete other than Kenenisa Bekele has come within five seconds of the time but following Joshua’s 1.99sec dismantling of the Ethiopian’s 5000m world record in Monaco, the Ugandan will be confident he can mount a strong challenge in Valencia City of Running.

“I am very excited to be given the opportunity to target the 10,000m world record,” explains Cheptegei, who last year was crowned world 10,000m champion in Doha and whose current Personal Best for the distance is 26:48.36. “As my performance in Monaco showed, I am in outstanding form, so I would like to make the most of my current shape by attacking the 10,000m world record. Kenenisa’s 10,000m world record is one of the toughest in the books, but my training continues to go well and this gives me real confidence I can set another world record. I have many happy memories in Valencia having set the world 10km road record there last year in 10K Valencia Trinidad Alfonso, so hopefully we can once again create something truly special Valencia, were running plays such an important role.”

In an attempt to add the 10,000m world record to the 5000m track world record and his current world road records over 5km and 15km, Cheptegei will be utilizing world-class pace making support as well as the innovative Wavelight technology.

Following his world record bid inside at the athletic tracks of the Turia Stadium, along section III of the Turia Gardens in Valencia (Spain), and will meet all safety measures required for the situation at the time of the event. Joshua plans to make his debut over the 21.1km distance at the rescheduled World Half Marathon Championships in Poland on October 17.

NN Running Team superstar athlete Kenenisa Bekele, who has been the proud owner of the world 10,000m record for the past 15 years, said: “I was delighted that the record went to Joshua, one of my NN Running Team mates. He is an outstanding talent, who is clearly in great form and I wish him all the best in pursuit of the 10,000m world record in Valencia.”

Top-class fields assembled for the NN Valencia World Record Day

In the men’s 10,000m race, McSweyn, who recently posted an Australian 3000m record of 7:28.02 in Rome, will hope to lower his national 10,000m record of 27:23.80 in Valencia. Meanwhile, two-time World Championship 10,000m finalist Shadrack Kipchirchir will also line up in the 25-lap race, hoping to mount an assault on the US record of 26:44.36.

Further bolstering the quality of the field is Spain’s Ouassim Oumaiz, who last month set a national U23 5000m record of 13:13.14 in Monaco. Also entered is Joshua’s Ugandan training partner Stephen Kissa – who boasts a handy 10km road best of 27:13.

A team of pacemakers for Joshua’s world record bid have also been assembled led by experienced Dutch pacemaker, Roy Hoornweg and supported by Matt Ramsden and Kenyan Nicholas Kipkorir. The assigned 5km split time has been set at an eye-popping 13:05.

5000m Women’s Race

A pair of leading athletes have also been added to the women’s 5000m field – led by Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey. Gidey boasts an impressive set of credentials and last year impressed on all surfaces; winning World Cross Country bronze, World 10,000m silver and obliterating the world 15km mark on the road by one minute 17 seconds, recording a blistering 44:20 in Nijmegen.

Trinidad Alfonso Foundation and Nationale-Nederlanden Spain, part of the NN Group, both known for their involvement and support of running, partnered up to make this unique world record meeting possible.
Race organizers are in close contact with the local government in order to follow all the local and regional Covid-19 measurements to ensure the full safety of all those involved. SD Correcaminos is the club organizer of Valencia Marathon and Half Marathon since 1981.

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Info by Abel de Frutos for Trailrunningspain