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Ugandan runner Stephen Kissa has explained why he took an early lead before pre-maturely exiting the Tokyo Olympics 10,000m final on Friday. 

Kissa created a 10 second gap between him and the leading pack as he dragged on till the 16th lap when he lost the lead to Kenyan Conseslus Kipruto.

He eventually dropped quickly to the back of the runners before exiting in what looked like a pacemakers job for the day. 

When interviewed about the DNF against his name, Kissa who has been hailed for his “heroics” back home in Uganda said it had been a “sacrifice” for Joshua and Jacob to win. 

“It was a sacrifice for the team. We had a plan for me to go ahead to make it a fast race,” he told media in Tokyo after the race.

“We [Uganda] were planning for the gold but unfortunately we have a silver and bronze. But I’m happy. We have two medals.”

Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei win bronze and silver respectively

Ethiopian Selemon Barega won the race in 27:43:22, Cheptegei and Kiplimo finishing 2nd – 3rd in 27:43:63 and 27:43:88 respectively. 

When to watch Kiplimo and Cheptegei compete again at the Tokyo Olympics; 

Men’s 5000m Round 1 – Heat 1-2

Date and Time: Tue 3 Aug. (2:00pm – 2:20pm EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

After winning silver in the 10000m at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday, Joshua Cheptegei is not resting on his laurels.

The 24-year-old has quickly switched focus and is now eyeing the 5000m title which he is dreaming of.

Cheptegei, through his social media, said he is delighted with his performance in the 10000m and grateful for the support he recieved.

“I’m very grateful for today’s silver medal at the Olympic Games 10,000m. I want to thank everyone for supporting me all the way!!,” he said in a tweet.

The 5000m world record holder adds that he is dreaming of the Olympic title over the distance.

“I’m still dreaming for the Olympic title! See you soon for the 5000m on Tuesday!”

The Men’s 5000m heats will be run on Tuesday, 3rd August starting at 2:00pm (East African Time) with the finals set for Friday, 6th August at 3:00pm.

World record holder Joshua Cheptegei and world leader Jacob Kiplimo got Uganda her first medals at the Tokyo Olympics after finishing 2nd and 3rd in the 10,000m final on Friday.

The duo sprinted home in the final 800m to stave off brutal competition from Kenya, Canada despite Ethiopian Selemon Barega claiming gold in the race.

Cheptegei who dominated from the 20th lap after compatriot Stephen Kissa had dropped off often exchanged first place with Kenyan Rodgers Kwemoi until the final two laps.

The race started with Kissa opening up a 10 second lead and by midway of the race, the 25-year-old was still going strong, tiring Barega and Kwemoi who tried to mount a chase.

Ugandan runner Stephen Kissa

Kenyan Conseslus Kipruto eventually overtook Kissa – who beat the Tokyo Olympics qualification mark with 27:26.46 in eighth place at the Ethiopian Trials in Hengelo, Netherlands on June – after 16 laps.

Kissa’s role was done, falling fast to bottom before exiting the race for a DNF. With conditions really humid (30 degrees) at the Olympic Stadium, Kipruto could only hold on for four laps, Cheptegei ascending to the lead.

Ethiopian Kejelcha Yomif and Canadian Ahmed Mohammed followed closely in fifth and third place, sandwiching Kiplimo. The race pace upped to 64 seconds with two laps remaining. 

Cheptegei regained the lead then but it didn’t last long before Ahmed took over. The scramble came down to the final 1000m that Barega covered in 2:25 – the fastest in a 10,000m Olympics race in history – to win Gold.

Cheptegei and Kiplimo sprinted too side by side, to cross the finish line in a 2 – 3 in 27:43:63 and 27:43:88 respectively. The silver-bronze meant the first time Uganda has  won two Olympics medals in an event. 

2020 Tokyo Olympics Men’s 10,000m results;

  1. Selemon Barega (Ethiopia) – 27:43:22
  2. Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda)- 27:43:63
  3. Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) – 27:43:88
  4. Aregawi Berihu (Ethiopia) – 27:46:16
  5. Fisher Grant (USA) – 27:46:39

Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have won Uganda its first medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Cheptegei and Kiplimo completed a 2-3 finish in the Men’s 10000m to win Silver and Bronze respectively as Ethiopian Selemon Barega claimed gold.

World champion Cheptegei ran a season-best 27:43.63 and was just under a second behind Barega who crossed the finish line in 27:43.22.

Meanwhile, Kiplimo clocked 27:43.88.

Stephen Kissa, another Ugandan in the event, set the pace of the race and a platform for his compatriots leading through 6000m before eventually dropping out.

The country will come to a complete standstill when World record holder Joshua Cheptegei and World leader Jacob Kiplimo grace the men’s 10,000m Tokyo Olympics final on Friday. 

Cheptegei will finally be presented with an opportunity to cement his place as one of the World’s greatest of all time when he attempts to win Gold.

Compatriot Kiplimo also seeks to snatch the spotlight away from Cheptegei despite the long standing respect and brotherhood they have exhibited for a while. 

In a field without Great Britain’s Mo Farrah and injured Kenyan nemesis Goeffrey Kamworor, Cheptegei and Kiplimo are more likely winners  for this first track-and-field medal event of the Tokyo Games.

Kenyans Rhônex Kipruto, Kwemoi Rodgers and Ethiopians Kejelcha Yomif plus Selemon Barega have to be respected though as they are equally strong contenders for the podium. 

At the previous Olympics in Rio, Cheptegei finished sixth in the 10,000m and eighth in the 5000m before winning silver at the 2017 World Championships in London and gold in Doha in 2019.

He further rose the global rankings on completing the 5000m-10,000 double at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. 

The Kapchorwa-based star also shattered the 10,000m record, running 26:11.00 in Valencia to trim more than six seconds off Bekele’s 15-year-old mark.

On the other hand, 20-year-old Kiplimo clocked a world-leading 26:33.93 in Ostrava on 19 May, the second-fastest time over the 25 lap race since 2008 and elevating him to seventh on the world all-time list.

“I think it would be something that is so special for the country, for me as a person if I am to achieve by winning the gold medal,” Cheptegei said in a recent interview. 

“It would be something so spectacular, so awesome and a great achievement that should actually be celebrated because we have had the Olympic gold by Akii-Bua. We’ve also had the marathon gold, so  I think it’s time for us to have one of the track (long-distance gold) medals,” he added.

Jacob Kiplimo

Cheptegei and Kiplimo’s success will be backed by fellow Ugandan Stephen Kissa who is expected to tactically support the duo in pursuit of glory at the Olympic Stadium. 

When to watch Cheptegei, Kiplimo and Kissa compete;

Men’s 10,000m Final

Date and Time: Fri 30 July (2:30pm EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

Ugandan middle-distance runner Albert Chemutai has fallen short of qualifying for the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase final at the Tokyo Olympics.

Chemutai finished ninth in the challenging field he faced in Heat 1 of the 3000 meters Steeplechase on Friday. He crossed the finish line in a time of 8:29.81.

The 26-year-old was fourth through the first kilometer but lost pace and fell behind to eighth at the 2000m mark before eventually finishing ninth.

Chemtai’s time means he can not be among the other six fastest across the heats that advance to the finals.

Ethiopian Lamecha Girma won the race in 8:09.83, Ryuji Miura ran a Japan national record of 8:09.92 to come second while Kenyan Benjamin Kigen took the third direct qualification place with his season-best 8:10.80.

Ugandan middle-distance runners Esther Chebet, Prisca Chesang and Sarah Chelangat head into the Tokyo Olympics women’s 5000m heats with a huge possibility of surprise on Friday. 

The trio are all debuting in the competition with Chebet a little more experienced as compared to her younger compatriots Chesang and Chelangat. 

Chebet is ranked 83rd on the globe, having featured at the 2017 London and 2019 Doha World Championships. She also made 5th place at the Morocco 2019 Africa Games in 4:21:04. 

Kenyan Helen Obiri presents one of Chebet’s biggest challenges. Obiri claimed the highest honors at the 2019 Doha World Championships, earlier scooping silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

Great Britain’s McColgan Eilish, Ethiopian Tsegay Gudaf and South Africa’s Scott Dominic are some of the other entries that could tip the scales for Chebet in heat 1.

Chesang and Chelangat are bound to support each other in heat 1 against Dutch medal favorite and 2018 Berlin European Championships gold winner Sifa Hassan. 

Kenyan pair Agnes Jebet Tirop and Rengeruk Lillian Kasait who have run sub-15 personal bests will draw more fight from the Ugandans in pursuit of slots in the final. 

Chebet, Chesang and Chelangat will have to finish among the first 5 in their respective heats or get positions among the next 5 fastest overall advance to the final. 

When to watch Chesang, Chebet and Chelangat compete pending qualification;

Women’s 5000m Round 1 – Heat 1 and 2

Date and Time: Fri 30 July (1:00pm and 1:36pm EAT respectively)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

CECAFA Kagame Cup defending champions KCCA FC have named the travelling contingent to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for the 2021 tournament.

The team travels aboard Air Tanzania and departs Entebbe today (Friday, 30th August) at 2:45 pm EAT.

Five players who have been part of the Uganda Kobs squad at the CECAFA Challenge Cup in Ethiopia have been named on the squad and will join the team on Saturday in Dar es Salaam along with head coach Morley Byekwaso.

These are Musa Ramathan, Peter Magambo, Bright Anukani, Sam Ssenyonjo, and Julius Poloto.

The Squad

Officials

World champion Halima Nakaayi and compatriot Winnie Nanyondo have qualified for the Women’s 800m semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics.

Nanyondo qualified directly from Heat 1 in which she finished second in a time of 2:02.02, about a second behind race winner Renelle Lamote of France.

On the other hand, Nakaayi advanced from Heat 2 as one of the next six fastest outside the first three across the six heats.

Nakaayi finished fourth in a fast-paced race crossing the finish line in 2:00.92.

The Ugandan duo will take the track again on Saturday, 31st July to compete for a place in the finals of 800m. The semifinals are scheduled to start at 2:50 pm (East African Time).

Ugandan rower Kathleen Noble has become the second best African at the women’s single sculls after sealing second place at the Tokyo Olympics final E on Friday. 

The delayed event was the 26-year-old’s last outing after finishing second in the semi final E/F on the back of her 5th place debut and 3rd place result in a repechage. 

Noble seemed fresh following a sufficient period of rest and posted 8:07.00 her best time so far at the games at the Sea Forest Waterway.

Her race had been rescheduled by a day due to expected high wind and rain from a forecasted tropical storm Nepartak that had formed in the Philippine Sea, southeast of Japan.

The USA based star came behind Qatari Tula Abujbara, concluding her journey as the first Ugandan to compete in the discipline also 26th overall.