Athletics is one of Uganda’s core sports, one the country can depend on for a medal however it is so easy to state that glory days have been revived by three-time World Champion Joshua Cheptegei.
Over the past few years, with hard work, persistence and self-drive Cheptegei (since 2017) just like Stephen Kiprotich in 2012 earned themselves expensive popularity and have given hope to Youngsters all over the Country.
A great look and trend of Ugandan Athletes Carries on thus yielding visible fruits of late, Jacob Kiplimo surfacing in the Scope today having had a great 2024.
As the year draws to a close, we light up a torch at the key moments of 2024 in Athletics beat of sport.
According to World Athletics Kiplimo has been listed as a major winner of 2024 in the Cross Country category as per his successful World Cross Country Championships title defence in Belgrade having earlier won in Bathurst, Australia.
This win saw Kiplimo make it three consecutive triumphs for Uganda in the senior men’s race becoming just the fourth man to have won back-to-back senior men’s titles, joining Kenenisa Bekele, Paul Tergat and Geoffrey Kamworor.
Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi the leader in the cross-country world rankings – took silver, as he did in 2023, and Kenya’s Benson Kiplangat earned bronze however team title went to Kenya ahead of Uganda and Ethiopia.
Major winners
World Cross Country Championships: Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 28:09 African Cross Country Championships: Vincent Kibet Langat (KEN) 28:32 European Cross Country Championships: Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 22:16 Asian Cross Country Championships: Gulveer Singh (IND) 32:43 Pan American Cross Country Championships: Segundo Jami (ECU) 29:35
Expanding the year, Jacob Kiplimo was also mentioned as part of a 5 man lineup of athletes competing for the out-of-stadium athlete title.
Apart from Kiplimo, the ever-green Cheptegei finally won the 10000m Gold medal at the end of a full athletics track career at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.
This was the missing Olympics piece in his cabin having finished 6th in 2016 Rio De Janeiro and 2nd in 2020 Tokyo Olympics 10,000m.
Another historic moment was watching Tarsis Orogot become the first Ugandan to compete in the 200m at the Olympics in 32 years, following Francis Ogola’s appearance at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Additionally, he was the first Ugandan sprinter to compete at the Olympic Games since Davis Kamoga, who won a bronze medal in the 400m at the 1996 Olympics.
He may not have been a medalist but his participation widened the masses’ thoughts on Uganda Athletes despite having known them for the Long distances both on track and road.
In the Ladies, steeplechase queen Peruth Chemutai who managed to bring home Gold in 2020 Tokyo Olympics this time round from a nasty injury bagged a Silver at the Paris Olympics, a positive and a reason to celebrate and look ahead for the better.
Charity Cherop’s gold and Loice Chekwemoi’s silver from the women’s 3,000m steeplechase finals were another that lifted Uganda’s Flag higher at the U20 World Athletics Championships in the South American City of Lima, Peru.
Ending the year on a sad note Rebecca Cheptegei lost her life after being set ablaze by her former boyfriend Dickson Ndiema and later died has been buried in her father’s homestead in eastern Uganda.
As a member of Uganda’s armed forces (UPDF), soldiers carried the coffin and she was given a three-volley salute.
Cheptegei got into running after joining the Uganda People’s Defence Forces in 2008 which helped support her.
Her last race was at the Paris Olympics where she came 44th people in her home area still referred to her as “champion”.
She won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.
Climaxing it all once again is Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei who crowns the year with the completion of his Teryet National High Altitude Training Centre in Kapchorwa District.
Commissioned by the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni the state-of-the-art Facility seated on 45 hectares at an altitude of 2500 metres was officially opened to use.
And this is set to help improve Athletes In Uganda and other countries by catering for their different needs; the centre of amenities is an athletic track, artificial turf, field track, hostel block, external kitchen as well as assorted equipment.
Therefore Uganda at low or no cost will see their Athletes travel a short distance to attain skill and fitness with the best.
