© Copyright – 2019 – Athletics Illustrated
Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto, who earned a 10,000-metre bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, set a new 10-kilometre (road) world record on Sunday in Valencia, Spain. He finished in the time of 26 minutes, 24 seconds, shaving 14 seconds off of the previous world record.
The world road record stood at 26:38 by Kenyan-turned-Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei from his 2019 run in Valencia. Cheptegei won a gold medal in the 10,000m event in Doha.
The 20-year-old Kipruto also took down the 5K road record after crossing halfway in 13:18. In the second 5K of the race, he closed in a not-ratified 13:06.
His performances are not a surprise. At age 18, he ran a 27:13 in Prague.
Fellow Kenyan Benard Kimeli finished second in the time of 27:12, two seconds off of his personal best from Prague two years ago. Julien Wanders of Switzerland set a new personal best and European road record finishing in the time of 27:13.
Meanwhile, another Kenyan, Sheila Chepkirui, won the women’s race in the time of 29:46. She is a Kenyan (2016) and African 5,000m champion (2019) Rosemary Wanjiru and Norah Jeruto tied for second at 29:51.
