DURBAN, South Africa — Ugandan long distance star Joshua Cheptegei produced a commanding performance to win the 2026 Absa Run Your City Durban 10K on Sunday, clocking 27 minutes, 19 seconds to set a new course record and register one of the fastest 10 kilometer times ever recorded on African soil.
The Olympic champion and world record holder, competing on South African roads for the first time in eight years, controlled the race from the front before pulling away to finish 10 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Salem Kibet, who crossed the line in 27:29. Uganda’s Emmanuel Kibet completed a strong East African podium with a time of 27:32.
The victory was Cheptegei’s third Durban 10K title, adding to his previous successes at the event and reaffirming his class as one of the world’s finest distance runners.
Speaking after the race, Cheptegei said he was encouraged to see his speed remain intact despite shifting his focus toward longer distance races.
“It’s good to see that the speed for the shorter distance is still there,” he said.
The 29 year old also credited proper preparation, nutrition and race fueling for the impressive result.
“Always good to see that everything from fueling, nutrition pre race is going very well, small but great ingredients for great results coming soon.”
Reflecting on his journey, Cheptegei acknowledged the challenges that come with elite competition but stressed the importance of resilience.
“The sport always has lots of setbacks, but what is very important is never giving up.”
He revealed that his next targets include a half marathon in about two months before stepping up to another full marathon as he continues his transition to longer road races.
Cheptegei, who holds the world records in both the 5,000 meters (12:35.36) and 10,000 meters (26:11.00), has increasingly focused on road racing following his celebrated track career.
Kenya’s Victor Okoth finished fourth in 27:50, Tanzania’s Agustino Daniel was fifth in 28:03, while South Africa’s Kabelo Mulaudzi placed sixth in 28:06. Uganda’s Leonard Kwerit finished 10th in 28:19.
In the women’s race, Kenya’s Doreen Cherop claimed the title with a breakthrough victory.
Cheptegei’s latest triumph further cements Uganda’s reputation as a global powerhouse in distance running and provides another confidence boosting performance as the double Olympic champion continues his pursuit of marathon success.
