TALLAHASSEE, USA – Uganda opened the 2026 athletics season in style, delivering its best-ever performance at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee. The team returned home with seven medals—two gold, two silver, and three bronze—surpassing the previous best of six medals at the 2019 edition.
Jacob Kiplimo defended his 10km Senior Men title, completing a historic back-to-back victory and helping the senior men’s team claim bronze. On the women’s side, Joy Cheptoyek made history by winning silver in the senior race, leading the senior women’s team to a bronze medal.
The championships also marked a milestone for Uganda’s junior athletes. The Junior Women’s team claimed their first-ever team gold, powered by Charity Cherop, who also secured an individual bronze. Meanwhile, the U20 men’s team clinched team silver, with four runners finishing in the top 10.
Out of the 26 athletes Uganda entered, 22 returned home with medals, underscoring the depth of talent across age categories.
In the Women’s 10km race, Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich won gold with a 42-second lead, while Cheptoyek earned silver in 32:10. Ethiopia’s Senayet Getachew took bronze, guiding her team to gold in the team standings, with Uganda narrowly behind in third.
The performance signals a historic moment for Ugandan athletics, reflecting the country’s growing strength on the global stage and raising hopes for continued success in the 2026 season.
Summary of Uganda’s Medal Tally
Individual: Jacob Kiplimo (Gold), Joy Cheptoyek (Silver), Charity Cherop (Bronze)
Team: Junior Women (Gold), U20 Men (Silver), Senior Women (Bronze), Senior Men (Bronze).
