Four gold medals for Uganda

KAMPALA- Team Uganda collected a total of six medals to finish best at the World Mountain Running Championships in Italy yesterday.

Isaac Kiprop announced his return to the world athletics scene by tearing through the field to win the senior men’s race in 53 minutes and 50 seconds.

Daniel Rotich, the national half marathon champion, came second in 55:10 and Kibet Soyekwo (55:24) completed the podium sweep as Uganda clinched the senior men’s team gold in the 11.7km competition.
Nathan Ayeko, who took bronze in last year’s podium sweep for Uganda, finished a distant 11th position in 58.10 while James Kibet came 43rd (1:01:33).

There was more for Uganda to celebrate as Phillip Kipyeko pipped Turkish pair of Ramazan Karagoz (42:42) and Ferhat Bozkurt (42:53) to take the 8.4km men’s junior gold in 40:51.

Stella Chesang was unstoppable as she clocked 19:23 to leave a field of 43 runners in her wake in the women’s 3.8km junior race. In the women’s senior 8.4km, Patricia Chekwemboi missed a medal by three slots after she took sixth place in a time of 49:11.

The race was won by 35-year-old Austrian Andrea Mayr in 45:07. Kenyan Lucy Wambui finished second (47:49) while American Allison McLaughlin (47:55) came third.

Last year, Uganda collected five medals and yesterday’s display is by far the best for the country, which has made it a habit to dominate mountain running.

World mountain running results
JUNIOR MEN
1. Phillip Kipyeko (UGA) 40:51
2. Ramazan Karagoz (TUR) 42:42
3. Ferhat Bozkurt (TUR) 42:53
SENIOR WOMEN
1. Andrea Mayr (AUT) 45:07
2. Lucy Wambui (KEN) 47:49
3. Allison McLaughlin (USA) 47:55
6. P. Chekwemboi (UGA) 49:11
JUNIOR WOMEN
1. Stella Chesang (UGA) 19:23
2. Sarah Kistner (GER) 20:38
3. Michaela Stranska (CZE) 21:01

dkyeyune@@ug.nationmedia.com