Joshua Cheptegei Falls Short In Amsterdam

Podium:

1. Edris Muktar (Ethiopia) – 44:51
2. Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) – 45:18
3. Mathew Kimeli (Kenya) – 45:44

All eyes were on Olympic and three-time World Champion Joshua Cheptegei as he lined up for the 38th NN Dam tot Damloop, but the Ugandan distance running star was unable to deliver the expected win.

Cheptegei, one of the most dominant athletes in the world, had to settle for second place, finishing the 10-mile race in 45:18 on Sunday in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

From the start, Cheptegei set a fast pace, running alongside last year’s winner Mathew Kimeli in a competitive lead pack.

The race seemed poised to go in his favor as the leading group of nine runners pushed hard through the streets of Amsterdam.

However, it was Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris who stole the show. Edris made an early break at just 4 kilometers, throwing off Cheptegei and the other favorites with a bold surge.

Cheptegei tried to close the gap around the 11-kilometer mark, showing a brief flash of the power that has earned him world titles, but the Ethiopian’s lead was too wide to bridge.

As the race drew to its final stages, Edris maintained his pace, crossing the finish line in 44:51—setting the fastest time in the world this year for the 10-mile distance.

Cheptegei’s 45:18 was solid but far from the dominant performance many had anticipated.

Kenya’s Ismael Kiprono rounded out the podium with a third-place finish in 45:44.