Uganda impresses at World Athletics Championships
Uganda’s representatives at the World Athletics Championships in the Hungarian capital, Budapest impressed with two gold medals.
The East African country nicknamed the Pearl of Africa because of its immense beauty impressed everyone as Joshua Cheptegei won gold in the men’s 10000m finals.
Clocking a time of 27.51.42 seconds, the 26-year-old fastest man in history over 5000m and 10,000m beat Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo who claimed silver with a time of 27:52.60. Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega got bronze with a time of 27:52.72.
However, the Ugandan long-distance runner pulled out of the 5000m race with an injury that disrupted his plans to win a championship double.
Meanwhile on the last day of the championship, 23-year-old long distance athlete, Victor Kiplangat reintroduced himself to the world in a stylish fashion when he won the men’s marathon.
Kiplangat who had last year won silverware in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham beat 83 other men to the marathon gold on the streets of Budapest to ensure he now has three wins in five career marathons since 2021.
“It was my day today, it was hot but the weather favoured me. I got a lot of experience from running in Birmingham and it was what helped me here. This medal is for my family, especially my last born who is just one month old,” he said after beating Israel’s Manu Teferi who clocked 2:09:12 and secured silver. Ethiopia’s Leul Gebresilase came third on 2:09:19 to wrap up the podium finishes.
Other Ugandan athletes including Stephen Kissa(Marathon) Peruth Chemutai (3000m ), Oscar Chelimo (5000m) and Halima Nakaayi (800m) fell short of the mark but the two gold medals by Kiplangat and Cheptegei meant that Uganda finished 11th at the championships and third in Africa below Kenya and Ethiopia.
A total of 203 countries participated in the championships but only 39 managed to leave with at least a medal, with eight settling for bronze.
