On Tuesday, January 13, Athletics Uganda received the main part of the contingent from USA, Florida, Tallahassee, where they made history in the 46th World Cross Country Championship, which happened on Saturday, January 10.
The team won a record of 7 medals, which is the best for Uganda in the history of the World Cross Country. The medal tally overtook the 6-medal record won in 2019 from Aarhus, Denmark.
Athletics Uganda President Dominic Otucet lauded the team; “In Athletics, all the members on the team that finish in the top 8 are legends; therefore, the members of this team are legends.”
“But as we continue to make Uganda shine internationally, we again appeal to the government to increase more funds for Athletics so that our Athletes can focus more on Athletics.”
To emphasize, assistant team captain Nancy Chekwurui noted, “As we were leaving, we promised to raise the Ugandan flag high. Indeed, we have lifted it, and we are much determined to do more, but we can only succeed with extended support from the government.”
At this year’s World Cross Country Championship, Jacob Kiplimo successfully and effortlessly defended his 10Km title, despite running 9 seconds slower than the time he won with in Belgrade, Serbia, last year.
On Kiplimo’s defense, Junior Women upgraded their performance to win the first ever gold medal, as the Junior Men also went on to post their best performance, winning a silver, while the senior teams for Women and Men both bagged a bronze.
To assure the improvement of this year’s performance from that of last year, Team Uganda added two individual medals to the tally, with Joy Cheptoyek bagging a silver and a bronze won by Junior Athlete Charity Cherop.
All results from the team;
Senior Men’s 10km Results
1. Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) – 28:18 🥇
(Gold medal; historic third straight title!)
2. Dolphine Chelimo (UGA) – 29:07
3. Keneth Kiprop (UGA) – 29:20
4. Emmanuel Kibet (UGA) – 29:46
5. Deogracius Musobo (UGA) – 30:41
DNF – Dan Kibet (UGA) – Did Not Finish (one of the scorers early but did not complete the race)
Senior Women’s 10km Results
2. Joy Cheptoyek (UGA) – 32:10 🥈
(Silver medal; historic first individual senior women’s medal for Uganda!)
3. Rispa Cherop (UGA) – 32:52
4. Sarah Chelangat (UGA) – 33:20
5. Rebecca Chelangat (UGA) – 34:06
6. Martha Chemutai (UGA) – 34:30
7. Kereen Chemusto (UGA) – 36:09
U20 Men’s 8km Results
5. Abraham Cherotich (UGA) – 23:47
(Led much of the early race and was a key force in the lead pack)
6. Daniel Kiprotich Chelogoi (UGA) – 23:51
7. Solomon Andiema (UGA) – 24:01
8. Dan Kipyeko (UGA) – 24:02
9. Jeremiah Kwemoi (UGA) – 24:24
U20 Women’s 6km Results
3. Charity Cherop (UGA) – 19:19 🥉
(Bronze medal; historic individual breakthrough!)
4. Bentalin Yeko (UGA) – 19:50
5. Felister Chekwemoi (UGA) – 19:53
6. Peace Chebet (UGA) – 19:54
7. Nancy Chepkwurui (UGA) – 20:12
(Key for the team tiebreaker win)
Uganda’s Mixed Relay Team & Performance
• Team Uganda (Brenda Chekwemoi, Sylvia Chelangat, Silas Chemutai, Daniel Comboni)
• Position: 8th
• Time: 23:43
