Joshua Cheptegei stepped beyond the finish line in Dubai, breathing hard but smiling. This win, he knew, mattered.
“I am trusting the process, and this victory means a lot to me,” Cheptegei said after edging two of Africa’s finest to win the 2026 Barj2Barj Dubai Half Marathon on Sunday. “I have to keep the dream alive as I look toward my next marathon race.”
Cheptegei claimed victory in 59:26 after a tense sprint finish, narrowly beating Kenya’s Nicolas Kipkorir (59:28) and Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu (59:30). The three ran shoulder to shoulder for much of the race, refusing to break, before the Ugandan produced a decisive kick in the final metres.
More than just another title, the race was a key test in Cheptegei’s transition from track dominance to the demands of road and marathon running. He has embraced the shift with patience, viewing the Dubai race as an important step in building endurance and experience over longer distances.
His success is also helping change attitudes toward road racing, a discipline many athletes shy away from because of its punishing training load. Training partner Abel Sikowo believes the win sends a clear message.
“This victory shows that everyone is capable, as long as you commit and believe in the process,” Sikowo said.
Back home, Uganda Athletics Federation president Dominic Otuchet praised the performance as another landmark in Cheptegei’s career.
“This is a spectacular run and a clear sign of continued progress,” Otuchet said. “We are proud of him and confident he will achieve even more on the road and in the marathon.”
