Joshua Cheptegei secures 10000m Olympics ticket

World 5000m and 10000m record-holder Joshua Cheptegei sealed his seat for the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics with his first 10000m race of the year on Saturday.

Cheptegei finished 26:53 to come second in the Northern Spanish town of Laredo, to book his ticket to Paris.

The 27-year-old's time was his third-quickest and 15 seconds slower than the then-world record of 26:38 he set in Valencia in December 2019.

However, it was just enough to see him through to the Olympics as he needed to beat the 27-minute mark to qualify.

Meanwhile, the Ugandan long-distance runner trailed behind Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, who finished 26:37.

Kejelcha's time is the third fastest in the 10km history, with Rhonex Kipruto (26:24) and Berihu Aregawi (26:33) the only ones faster at a World Athletics Label event.

On the day, Cheptegei travelled a few metres behind in the company of his pacemaker, his compatriot Naman Kipyeko, but he began to lose ground some six minutes into the race.

By the third kilometre, Kejelcha became the likelier winner as he had built a seven-second gap on the Ugandan, with 7:54 and 8:01 their respective times at that point.

It should be recalled that Cheptegei failed to win gold at the preceding Tokyo Olympics, settling for Silver, as Ethiopian Selemon Barega scooped gold.

Men

1 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 26:37

2 Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 26:53

3 Addisu Yihune (ETH) 27:28

4 Hillary Chepkwony (KEN) 27:43

5 Eduardo Menacho (ESP) 28:24