DENMARK: Uganda’s Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei on Sunday won a gold medal at the 2019 World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark scooping the main cash prize of $ 30,000.
Cheptegei who won two gold medals in the 5000m and 10,000m races respectively at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, has become the first Ugandan to win gold in the Men’s Senior Category at the IAAF World Cross Country Championship.
Cheptegei beat his country mate Jacob Kiplimo who finished second, and Kenyan athlete Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor came third.
Another Ugandan, Thomas Ayeko was seventh, with a timing of 36 minutes, 47 seconds.
Joel Ayeko clocked 36 minutes, 57seconds to take 10th position.
The two other Ugandans in the men race, Albert Chemutai (32:46) and Maxwell Rotich (33:28) finished 12 and 27th respectively.
Uganda also won the gold in the team event.
It was the first ever gold for Uganda in both the senior men’s event and the team event.
Earlier, Oscar Chelimo had won bronze in the junior men’s event, leading his team to silver, while the senior women had also won team bronze.
Senior Men race 10km
1-Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei (Uganda) – 31:40 (Prize $30,000)
2-Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) – 31:44 ($15,000)
3-Geoffrey Kamworo (Kenya) – 31:55 ($10,000)
7 – Thomas Ayeko (Uganda) – 36:47
12 – Albert Chemutai (32:46)
27 – Maxwell Rotich (33:28)
A section through the course as the leading pack kicked to the finishing line.
In the senior women race, Kenya’s Hellen Obiri took the top honours with 36:14 to win $ 30,000 prize money.
Obiri was ahead of the Ethiopian duo of Dera Dida and Letesenbet Gidey who finished second and third respectively.
Uganda’s Rachael Chebet was fourth to take home $ 7000 as Peruth Chemutai was fifth to partake $ 5000 of the prize money.
Team Uganda won bronze, that came with a reward of $ 12,000.
The U-20 men event was won by Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha.
Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo was third in the 8 KM race behind another Mengesha namesake.
Kenya’s Leonard Kipkemoi Bett finished fourth with a timing of 24 minutes, two seconds.
The U-20 women race (6KM) was won by Ethiopia’s Alemitu Tariku with a timing of 20 minutes, 50 seconds.
She was mirco seconds ahead of countrymate Tsigie Gebreselama.
Kenya’s Beatric Chebet (20:51) took bronze in third place as Uganda’s Sarah Chelengat was fourth with a timing of 20:51.
Senior Women race (10KM):
1- Hellen Obiri – 36:14( $30,000)
2- Dera Dida – 36:16 ($15,000)
3- Letesenbet Gidey – 36:24 ($10,000)
4-Rachael Chebet – 36:47( $7000)
5- Peruth Chemutai – 36:4 ($5000)
Under 20 Men race (8KM):
1- Milkesa Mengesha – 23:52
2-Milkesa Mengesha – 23:54
3-Oscar Chelimo – 23:55
4-Leonard Kipkemoi – 24:02
Under 20 Women race (6KM):
1-Alemitu Tariku – 20:50
2-Tsigie Gebreselama – 20:50
3-Beatrice Chebet – 20:51
4-Sarah Chelengat – 20:51