Ugandan long-distance star Joshua Cheptegei has officially secured his place at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, after an impressive performance in the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist clocked an impressive 2:05:59, comfortably beating the World Athletics Championships’ qualifying standard of 2:06:30. Cheptegei finished ninth in a highly competitive field, with Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele claiming victory.
“I’m very excited to finish in the top 10 in just my second marathon. I’m still learning and adapting as I transition from the track to the marathon,” said Cheptegei, who last year announced his shift away from the 5,000m and 10,000m races to focus on the grueling 42km event.
His performance in Tokyo marks a significant improvement from his marathon debut in Valencia last year, where he finished 37th.
Fellow Ugandan Stephen Kissa, however, struggled in Tokyo, finishing 25th and missing the qualification mark.
With his spot at the 2025 World Championships now secured, Cheptegei’s marathon journey is gaining momentum, and the world will be watching as he continues his pursuit of greatness over the 42km distance.
