Ugandan long-distance duo Joy Cheptoyek and Harbert Kibet produced eye-catching performances in Tokyo on Saturday, claiming victories in two high-profile road races and signalling their intent ahead of this year’s World Athletics Championships.
Cheptoyek, 23, continued her impressive rise on the international stage by storming to victory in the women’s 10km race at the Tokyo Space Race, clocking 30 minutes and 22 seconds. The time marked a personal best and placed her comfortably ahead of Djibouti’s Samiyah Hassan Nour, who finished second in 30:40—a new national record. Australia’s Isobel Batt-Doyle was third, also setting an Oceanian record with a time of 30:44.
The event, held on a flat loop circuit near Japan’s National Stadium, attracted a strong field and served as a key marker for athletes building towards the World Championships in September.
Cheptoyek’s win adds further momentum to Uganda’s reputation as a growing force in distance running. Her teammates Rebecca Chelangat and Annet Chelangat also impressed, finishing fourth and seventh respectively.
In the men’s 5km ASICS Speed Race, Harbert Kibet, who turns 20 in June, announced himself on the international scene with a decisive win, crossing the line in a personal best of 13 minutes flat. Kibet surged clear on the final loop, finishing 10 seconds ahead of Djibouti’s Mohamed Ismail, whose time of 13:10 also set a national record.
Kenya’s Samwel Nyamai Mailu claimed third in 13:11, while South Africa’s Maxime Chaumeton rounded out the top four with a national record of 13:13.
Kibet’s performance, at just 19 years of age, is being seen as a breakthrough moment and a sign of promise for Uganda’s men’s middle-distance programme.
The Uganda Athletics Federation praised both athletes on social media, writing: “Congratulations to Joy Cheptoyek for winning the Tokyo 10km Space Race in a superb 30:22. Huge thanks to Rebecca Chelangat and Annet Chelangat for their strong performances, finishing 4th and 7th respectively. A proud day for all, well done.”
With the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 now just months away, both Cheptoyek and Kibet have made a clear statement of intent. The Championships, scheduled from 13 to 21 September, will see more than 2,000 athletes from around 200 countries descend on the Japanese capital for one of sport’s biggest global events.
