Team Uganda Jets Off To USA For U20 World Athletics Championships After Camp In Kenya
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Team Uganda’s U20 athletics squad has departed for Eugene, USA, to compete in the World U20 Championships, with hopes of building on last year’s record medal haul.
The team of 11 athletes flew out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya on Sunday after completing a one-month residential training camp in Kaptagat. The camp was staged in Kenya due to the recent Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
The squad consists of 4 women and 7 men and will be accompanied by three officials: Team Manager Namayo Mawerere, and coaches Immaculate Chemutai and Jimmy Adar, who will also double as the team physio.
Coach Chemutai said the team has prepared well and is confident of an outstanding performance in Eugene.
Team Manager Mawerere, who also serves as the Publicity Secretary of Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF), expressed optimism.
“This team is capable of challenging the best in the world. I believe the team can raise Uganda’s flag high,” he said.
Team Uganda List
Women
- Cherop Charity – 3000m / 5000m
- Chekwemoi Felister – 1500m
- Cherotwo Baskaline – 1500m
- Yeko Bantaline – 3000m / 5000m
Men
- Cherotich Abraham – 3000m
- Kipyeko Dan – 3000m
- Kibet Michael – 5000m
- Murungi Shafiek – 800m
- Chelogo Daniel – 1500m
- Kwemboi Jeremiah – 3000m Steeplechase
- Andiema Solomon – 5000m
Looking Back: Lima 2024
Uganda will be seeking to improve on its performance at the last World Athletics U20 Championships held in Lima, Peru, from August 26-31, 2024.
Team Uganda won 3 bronze medals in Lima, surpassing the single medal won at the 2022 edition in Cali, Colombia.
Medalists from Lima 2024:
- Charity Cherop: Bronze in Women’s 5000m with a personal best of 15:25.02
- Kenneth Kiprop: Bronze in Men’s 5000m with a time of 13:41.73
- Third Bronze: Uganda’s third bronze in Lima
The 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships will run from August 4-9 in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
With a month of high-altitude training behind them and confidence high in camp, Team Uganda will be aiming to add more medals and continue the country’s rise as a distance-running powerhouse.