Joshua Cheptegei lines up for challenge at World 10K 2025

Two runners who finished among the top ten in last year's race are prominently figuring among them. Kenya's Cintia Chepngeno, who finished ninth in 2024, is leading the list with a time of 30:08, clocked in Valencia. She arrives in fine form after securing a silver position in the Macau 10K earlier this year. Her country-mate Gladys Kwamboka Mong'are, the reigning African champion in the 10,000m who finished fifth in Bengaluru last year, has a personal best of 30:24.

Sandwiched between them are three other African runners from three different countries. Eritrea's Rahel Daniel, with a time of 30:12.15, clocked while finishing fifth in the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, joined forces with Ethiopia's 2023 African junior champion Asmarech Anley (20) and Ugandan Sarah Chelangat to challenge the Kenyan duo. Incidentally, Chelangat had a golden double at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and was a finalist in the 10,000m event at the Olympic Games and World Championships in recent years.

Three other Kenyans--Maureen Jemutai, Miriam Chepkoech and Nelvin Chepkemboi--also enter the fray with fast timing. Kenya's Irene Cheptai holds the Event Record for women at 30:35, registered in 2022. Abeba Aregawi originally hails from Ethiopia but migrated to Sweden in 2013, along with Transfora Mussa from Tanzania, adding further colour to the upcoming race. Interestingly, Aregawi won the silver medal for her native country in the 2012 London Olympics 1500m final and went on to clinch the gold in the following year's World Championships in Moscow for her adopted country.

Ugandan Olympian and multiple-time global medalist Joshua Cheptegei is the fastest among the men competing. His personal best of 26:11, set in 2022, is significantly superior to the TCS World 10K Bengaluru event record of 27:38, which was also achieved in 2022 by Kenyan Nicholas Kimeli. Cheptegei was a runner-up in Bengaluru in 2014 before embarking on his global journey.

Another Ugandan, Stephen Kissa, enters the fray. He also made it to the podium when he first appeared in Bengaluru eight years ago (2017) with a third-place finish and had dropped to sixteenth place by 2023. Stephen was also a bronze medallist in the 2020 Delhi Half-Marathon.

Kenya's Vincent Langat, who clocked 26:55 in Valencia earlier this year, may pull a surprise if conditions suit his plan. Awet Nftalem Kibrab, who originated in Eritrea and emigrated to Norway in 2022, and Ethiopian Jenbery Sisay (who finished seventh last year) may try their luck on the appointed day. With a total prize pot of USD 210,000, the TCS World 10K Bengaluru remains a popular destination for elite runners from around the globe, offering a platform to perform and prosper together.

International Elite Athlete for the World 10K Bengaluru 2025

Men:

1. Joshua Cheptegei UGA/1996 26:11.00

2. Vincent Langat KEN/2001 26.55

3. Stephen Kissa UGA/1995 27:13

4. Nibret Kinde ETH/2006 27.44

5. Dennis Kipkurui KEN/2004 27.45.16

6. Gabriel Gerald Geay TAN/1996 27.43

7. Maxon Kipngetich KEN/2000 28.16.08

8. Vincent Nyamongo Nyageo KEN/1999 28.17

9. Urgessa Negassa Kitesa ETH/2006 28.17

10. Awet Nftalem Kibrab NOR/1995 27:45

11. Chalchisa Gelata ETH/2006 28:10

12. Jenberu Sisay ETH/2006 27:44

13.Kekeba Bejiga ETH/2006

14.Abdrselam Worku Banshebi ETH/2006

15.Cornelius Kipkosgei Konor KEN/2005

Women:

1. Cintia Chepngeno KEN/2000 30:08

2. Rahel Daniel ERI/2001 30:12.15

3. Asmarech Anley ETH/2005 30:23

4. Sarah Chelangat UGA/2001 30:24

5. Gladys Kwamboka Mong'are KEN/1996 30:24

6. Maureen Jemutai KEN/2000 30:28

7. Miriam Chepkoech KEN/2003 30:29

8. Nelvin Jepkemboi KEN/2001 30:34

9. Alice Chemtai KEN/2005 30.47

10. Abeba Aregawi SWE/1990 31:05

11. Transfora Mussa TAN/1999 31:53

12. Gutene Shanko ETH/2005 32.33

13. Caren Chebet KEN/2000 33:08.8

14. Muluat Tekle ETH/2004 32:40.