Uganda’s long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei is happy with his progress despite finishing second in Lausanne.
Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia ran 12:40.45 in 5000m race to beat Cheptegei on Friday at the Athletissima meeting in the Diamond League.
Cheptegei finished second in a time of 12:41.61, the seventh fastest time ever.
He gave it his all in the last 200m or so, but couldn’t beat Aregawi’s late kick on home straight.
“My goal is to get back to the form I was in before – getting faster race by race – and tonight is the proof of that,” Cheptegei said on Friday.
“I still have a lot to improve on, a lot to work on, but if I believe in myself, I will reach my objectives.”
This is Cheptegei’s second race this year having finished fourth in Florence at the Golden Gala.
The multiple World Record holder is not yet back at his best his picking an injury that ruled him out of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
He will be hoping to regain his momentum ahead of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August.
