Ugandan distance runner Charity Cherop won bronze in the women’s 3,000 metres at the World Athletics U20 Championships, clocking 8:45.59 to add another medal to Uganda’s campaign.
Cherop finished third behind Ethiopia’s Yordanos Tsigab, who won in a personal best of 8:43.65, and Shito Gumi, who took silver in 8:45.06.
The bronze adds to Cherop’s medal haul at the championships after she also competed in the women’s 5,000 metres, where she won silver in 15:25.02. World Athletics records Cherop as a 5000m and 3000m specialist and lists her personal bests at 14:39.38 for 5,000m and 8:39.22 for 3,000m.
Cherop’s latest performance underlines her emergence as one of Uganda’s leading young distance runners, particularly over the longer track events.
Her 3,000m bronze came in a closely contested final, with only 1.94 seconds separating the top three athletes.
Cherop, born on July 4, 2007, has already established herself on the international junior circuit. Her current personal best of 14:39.38 in the 5,000m was set in May 2026, while her 8:39.22 personal best over 3,000m came in June.
Ugandan athletics has continued to build a strong tradition in distance running, with the country regularly producing world-class athletes across the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon events.
Cherop’s double-medal performance gives Uganda another promising prospect as the country’s next generation of distance runners continues to emerge.
