In recognition of his milestone, Uganda’s giant telecom MTN Uganda has offered long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei a cash prize of Shs123, 536,000 and a telecommunication package of 12GB of data, 35 voice minutes and 36 SMS per month for twelve months. Both prizes symbolize the new 12.35.36 world record time.
Last month in Monaco at the Diamond League meet, Joshua Cheptegei set a new 5000 metres world record of 12:35.36, breaking Kenenisa Bekele’s 16-year old world record of 12:37.35.
Cheptegei thanked MTN for supporting athletics in Uganda. He said the criticism he faced in 2017 during the World Cross Country competitions that happened here in Kampala forced him to work harder.
“Your criticism has made me who I am today. It has made me discover the potential I had. It made me to understand that I was somebody who is really courageous.
With that from 2017, I went on to become Silver medalist in the World Championships behind Mo Farah. Set-backs are important and they propel to something great. A man stands a test of challenges but those are the things that make better people,” Chepetegei said.