Uganda has sent in a strong 17-man team, which includes two defending champions in Joshua Cheptegei and Halimah Nakaayi, to the IAAF World Athletics Championships that get underway on Friday, July 15 in Oregon, USA. The first batch of the athletes departed the country on Tuesday, July 12.
The team was officially flagged off on Monday (July 11) by President Museveni and his wife, Janet, who is the minister of Education and Sports. Cheptegei, who will be defending the 10,000m gold, is the team captain. Cheptegei will also compete in the 5,000m race.
Nakaayi, the reigning 800m world championship, will lead Uganda’s challenge for medals in the women’s races.
Others on the team include Winnie Nanyondo (1,500m), Peruth Chemutai (3,000m steeplechase), Esther Chebet (5,000m), Mercyline Chelangat (10,000), Stella Chesang (10,000m) and Immaculate Chemutai (Marathon)
The men’s team has Tarsis Orogot (200m), Ronald Musagala (1,500m), Peter Maru (5,000m), Oscar Chelimo (5,000m), Jacob Kiplimo (10,000m), Stephen Kissa (10,000m), Felix Chemonges, Fred Musobo and Jackson Kiprop (Marathon).
After competing World Championships that end on July 24 in Oregon, Cheptegei and Kiplimo will join Uganda’s team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in the United Kingdom on July 28.
