Ugandans reap Shs330m at World X- Country show

Kampala- Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo embraced, then knelt in awe and delight after a 1-2 in the senior men’s 10km race the IAAF World Cross-country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark on Saturday.

That sight was only a perfect wrap to Uganda’s best show ever at the biennial event. The nation doubled its 2017 tally at the Kololo edition to reap a total six medals worth $89,000 (Shs330m) and finish as the third best country behind winners Ethiopia and Kenya in Aarhus. It felt like a day Uganda came for that belonged to it.

Cheptegei was the biggest beneficiary after he exorcised the demons of two years ago in Kololo to become the first Ugandan as the World Cross-country champion.

His victory earned him $30000 (Shs111m) in prize money while teenager Kiplimo pocketed $15000 (Shs56m) for second place.

The pair then had led to another historic landmark as Uganda won the team gold medal after Thomas Ayeko and Joel Ayeko finished seventh and tenth respectively.

Uganda tallied 20 points to beat powerhouses Kenya and Ethiopia in that order for the first time ever to win $20000 (Shs74m). Previous senior men’s team best finishes were in bronze places in Kololo and Mombasa 2007. It was a team effort after race footage showed Joel and Kiplimo share notes in the first two laps at the front and later Cheptegei speaking to Kiplimo before they floored Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor in the final stages.

Prior, Rachael Zena Chebet and Peruth Chemutai had missed on the podium in fourth and fifth positions in the senior women’s 8km event but got $7000 (Shs26m) and $5000 (Shs18m) respectively. Uganda here won the team bronze with 36 points to take home $12000 (Shs45m).
Oscar Chelimo had won Uganda’s first medal on the day, a bronze in the junior men’s 6km race and also led his teammates to a team silver with 32 points.

WORLD CROSS COUNTRY
SENIOR WOMEN (8KM)
1. Hellen Obiri (KEN) 36:14
2. Dera Dida (ETH) 36:16
3. Letesenbet Gidey (ETH) 36:24
4. Rachael Zena Chebet (UGA) 36:47
5. Peruth Chemutai (UGA) 36:49
13. Juliet Chekwel (UGA) 37:35
14 Esther Chebet (UGA) 37:36
21. Stella Chesang (UGA) 38:14
63. Doreen Chesang (UGA) 40:26

TEAM MEDAL
1. Ethiopia - 21 points
2. Kenya - 25
3. Uganda - 36

JUNIOR MEN (8KM)
1. Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 23:52
2. Tadese Worku (ETH) 23:54
3. Oscar Chelimo (UGA) 23:55
6. Hosea Kiplangat (UGA) 24:08
9. Samuel Kibet (UGA) 24:29
14. Mathew Chekwurui (UGA) 25:07
19. Dan Chebet (UGA) 25:49
22. Denis Cherotich (UGA) 25:55

TEAM MEDAL
1. Ethiopia - 18 points
2. Uganda - 32
3. Kenya - 34

JUNIOR WOMEN (6KM)
1. Beatrice Chebet (KEN) 20:50
2. Alemitu Tariku (ETH) 20:50
3. Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) 20:50
4. Sarah Chelangat (UGA) 20:51
19. Esther Chekwemoi (UGA) 22:11
24. Rebecca Chelangat (UGA) 22:25
26. Annet Chesang (UGA) 22:29
56. Leah Chelangat (UGA) 23:33

TEAM MEDAL
1. Ethiopia - 17 points
2. Kenya - 26
3. Japan - 72
4. Uganda - 73

MIXED RELAY
1. Ethiopia - 25:49
2. Morocco - 26:22
3. Kenya - 26:29
4. USA - 27:01
5. Uganda - 27:35

PRIZE MONEY
SENIOR RACES
1st: $30,000 (Shs111m)
2nd: $15,000 (Shs56m)
3rd: $10,000 (Shs37m)
4th: $7000 (Shs26m)
5th: $5000 (Shs18m)
6th: $3000 (Shs11m)

TEAMS
1st: $20,000 (Shs74m)
2nd: $16,000 (Shs59m)
3rd: $12,000 (Shs45m)
4th: $10,000 (Shs37m)
5th: $8000 (Shs29m)
6th: $4000 (Shs14m)

MIXED RELAY
1st: $12,000 (Shs44.5m)
2nd: $8000 (Shs29m)
3rd: $6000 (Shs22m)
4th: $4000 (Shs14m)

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