Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei has smashed the men's 10,000 metres world record at the Valencia World Record Day in Spain, crossing the line in a stunning 26 minutes 11.02 seconds.
New 10,000m world record holder Joshua Cheptegei. Photo: Photosport
Cheptegei, 24, broke the previous record of 26:17:53, set by Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele in 2005, at a special event in a near-empty Turia stadium as only 400 people including sponsors, journalists and staff were allowed in due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Another world record was also shattered at the event with Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey breaking the long-standing women's 5000m world record of her compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba by running 14 minutes 06.62 seconds.
The 22-year-old Gidey took nearly five seconds off Dibaba's best mark from 11 years ago.
Dibaba is a three-time Olympic champion and widely considered one of the best runners of all-time.
-Reuters
