During a press conference in Durban on Friday, current Olympic 10,000m runner champion Joshua Cheptegei compared modern road running to football, stating that the sport has become a team discipline.
The Philosophy of Team Running
Cheptegei noted: 'Running is like football now. It has become a team sport.' He added that if organizers want participants to run the distance under 27 minutes, 'we all have to unite, then something good might happen.'
Despite his career being built on individual excellence, this thought highlights a significant evolution in elite road running in recent years. Although only one athlete will stand on the podium, history is unlikely to be written unless leading contenders agree to share the load in the initial kilometers before battling for victory in the final stages.
Potential for a Record in Durban
This is why organizers believe Sunday's race could become the greatest 10-kilometer race held on African soil. Cheptegei, whose personal best is 26:38, is returning to the city where he set a record in 2018, becoming the first athlete to break the 28-minute barrier on South African territory and winning with a time of 27:16 among all participants.
After eight years, he believes the level of the sport has significantly improved. 'When I ran 27:16 here, it was something special,' he said. 'Now the level has improved so much that times around 26:50 could bring victory in major races. That's incredible.'
Participants and Their Goals
Among those hoping to set the pace is Gilbert Kiprotich from Kenya, who stated his ability to run the distance faster than 27 minutes after finishing the Lisbon half marathon with a time of 27:01 this year. Kiprotich explained his decision to come to Durban by wanting to set a personal record and noted: 'Cheptegei is here, and I know we will push each other. When a strong athlete comes to a race, it means we will help each other increase the pace.'
Title defender Kabelo Mulaudzi also aims to compete with the Ugandan runner, hoping that another confrontation with one of the modern greats will help improve his personal best of 27:41, which he set when winning last year.
Significance of the Race for Cheptegei
For Cheptegei, Durban represents more than just another stop on the international calendar. Returning for the first time since his record triumph eight years ago, he described the race as having a 'very special place' in his heart after it helped restore his confidence following a period marred by injuries early in his career. He added: 'We come here to compete with incredible athletes, but also to enjoy the moment.'
If the top athletes accept Cheptegei's call and compete as a team before becoming rivals, Sunday's showdown could provide exactly the moment that African road running has been waiting for.