Wanda Diamond League: Joshua Cheptegei breaks 16-year-old world 5,000m record in Monaco

Joshua Cheptegei broke the long-standing world 5,000m record at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco, clocking a stunning 12:35.36.

The Ugandan, who is also the world 10,000m champion, took two seconds off Kenenisa Bekele's mark of 12:37.35, set 16 years ago in Hengelo.

This was Cheptegei's first race since setting a world 5km record on the roads on February 16, also in Monaco.

Paced through the early stages by Roy Hoornweg (2:31.87 at 1,000m) and Matthew Ramsden (5:03.77 at 2,000m), Cheptegei took up the running at halfway and continued the metronomic pace, churning out 61-second laps. He passed through 3000m in 7:35.14 and then upped the pace slightly with a 2:30 for the fourth kilometre.

Having left the rest of the field way behind, he maintained his tempo and eked out another 2:30 split for the final kilometre, bringing him to the finish line in 12:35.36.

Kenya's Nicholas Kimeli, who was just approaching the final straight as Cheptegei crossed the line, finished a distant second in a lifetime best of 12:51.78. His compatriot Jacob Krop came at third with a timing of 13:11.32. 

(With ANI inputs)