Long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei has been rewarded with Shs123 million by MTN Uganda for breaking a 16-year-old 5,000m world record at the Monaco Diamond League in August.
Cheptegei set a new 5000m world record of 12:35.36 at the season-opening Monaco Diamond League breaking Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele’s world record of 12:37.35 set in 2004 in Hengelo.
He also received a telecommunication package of 12GB of data, 35 voice minutes and 36 SMS per month for twelve months. According to MTN Uganda, the offer symbolizes the new 12.35.36 world record time. at Mbale Resort Hotel.
Mr Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Uganda CEO, handed over the prizes to Cheptegei in a brief function at Mbale Resort Hotel.
“In recognition of this milestone, MTN Uganda has offered a cash prize of Shs123, 536,000 and a telecommunication package of 12GB of data, 35 voice minutes and 36 SMS per month for twelve months. Both prizes symbolize the new 12.35.36 world record time,” Wim Vanhelleputte said.
In February, Cheptegei also broke the 5-kilometer road mark in Monaco and in 13 days, he will be going for the 10,000m record when he returns to the same series in Valencia, Spain.
He was a candidate for the 2019 world athlete of the year but lost to Kenya’s marathon star Eliud Kipchoge.
