Ugandan athletes Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo are set to headline the country’s medal quest at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia.

453 elite runners from 48 teams have been confirmed and will participate in the global event on Saturday 18 February.

Ugandan runners will include Cheptegei, Kiplimo, Isaac Kibet, Rogers Kibet and Samuel Kibet for the senior men’s race.

Defending champion Cheptegei and Kiplimo will have to take on two-time winner Geoffrey Kamworor as who will be crowned.

The U20 men’s race will have Ugandans in Feb Chelegoi, Hosea Chemutai, Allan Kibet, Dan Kibet, Keneth Kiprop and Sailas Rotich competing.

Prisca and Stella Chesang will spearhead Uganda women’s quest alongside Annet Chemengich Chelangat, Mercyline Chelangat, Rispa Cherop and Doreen Chesang.

For the U20 women’s race, Peace Chebet, Felister Chekwemoi, Charity Cherop, Risper Cherop and Bentalin Yeko will hold the flag for the Pearl.

The Ugandan contingent will battle World U20 champions Medina Eisa of Ethiopia, Faith Cherotich and Reynold Cheruiyot of Kenya.

 

2023 Sevilla Half Marathon:

Top Five:

Men:

• 1^st: Amdework Walelegn (Nike) – 01:00:28
• 2^nd: Oqbe Kibrom Ruesom (Eritrea) – 01:01:01
• 3^rd:  Benjamin Choquert (Independiente) – 01:02:20
• 4^th: Michael Somers (Independiente) – 01:02:23
• 5^th: Boniface Abel Sikowo (Uganda) – 01:02:26

Women:

• 1^st: Betsy Saina (Adidas) – 01:08:25
• 2^nd: Alina Reh (Adidas) – 01:08:42
• 3^rd: Deborah Schoneborn (Independiente) – 01:09:41
• 4^th: Alisa Vainio (Independiente) – 01:10:20
• 5^th: Melody Julien (Independiente) – 01:11:42

Uganda’s Abel Boniface Sikowo, 23, finished fifth in the 28^th Seville Half Marathon on Sunday, 29^th January 2023.

The 23-year-old runner clocked 01:02:26 behind the overall winner Amdework Walelegn of team Nike from Ethiopia.

The course being the flattest half marathon of all those held in Europe didn’t help Sikowo much to a podium place but his exploits were commendable posting 1:02:26.

Amdework covered the 21.10 kilometres in a time of 01:00:28 ahead of Eritrean Oqbe Kibrom Ruesom (01:01:01).

Frenchman Benjamin Choquert (01:02:20) and Michael Somers (01:02:23) finished third and fourth respectively.

In the women’s category, Kenya’s Betsy Saina of the Adidas team clocked 01:08:25 to win ahead of Alina Reh (01:08:42) from Germany.

Saina, 34, broke the course record of 1:10.36 upon her return to action from maternity leave.

Germany’s Deborah Schoneborn (Independiente) was third with a timing of 01:09:41 as Alisa Vainio (Independiente) finished fourth with 01:10:20.

The race started and finished at Sevilla, es – Spain (Buenos Aires, on the Paseo de Las Delicias) with the respective winners assured $4,490 apiece.

• Event: 27^th EDP Seville Half Marathon
• Distance: 21.10 KM
• Date: Sunday, 29^th January 2023
• Start & Finish: Sevilla, es – Spain (Buenos Aires, on the Paseo de Las Delicias)
• Prize Money: $4,490

Ugandan runner Boniface Abel Sikowo will represent the country at the 2023 EDP Seville Half Marathon (Spain) due Sunday 29th January 2023.

Sikowo, 23, left Uganda at Entebbe International Airport on Wednesday, 25^th January aboard Emirates Airlines via Amsterdam and will stay in Spain to acclimatize to the weather conditions.

“I have trained well in Kapchorwa. I am physically and mentally set for the EDP Seville Half Marathon” Sikowo revealed.

For starters, Sikowo was born on the 27^th of July 1999. He is also a specialist in the 3000 metres steeplechase.

In 2017, he competed in the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2017 World Athletics Championships held in London, United Kingdom.

Two years later (2019), he competed in the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar.

During the same year, Sikowo represented Uganda at the 2019 African Games held in Rabat, Morocco, competing in the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase where he finished fifth.

Last year, the EDP Seville Half marathon was won by Sebastian Kimaru after clocking 59 minutes, 2 seconds ahead of David Ngure Irungu (01:00:21) and Gebrie Erkihun Jenberie (01:00:26).

Spaniard Meritxell Soler won the women’s version with a time of 01:10:36 ahead of France’s Melody Julien (01:11:07) and Swedish Carolina Wisktrom (01:11:10).

Long-distance runner Joshua Cheptegei claimed the international San Silvestre Vallecana with a time of 27:09 in Madrid on Saturday.

The world record holder of 5,000 and 10,000 meters overcame a host of elite athletes including Mohamed Katir from Murcia by ten seconds.

Katir moved pace-on-pace with Cheptegei until the 7th kilometre where he surrendered the defence of the title he won last year.

Cheptegei, 26, arrived in Madrid after overcoming an injury that prevented him from competing for much of 2022.

Cheptegei didn’t break the test record, held by his compatriot Jacob Kiplimo, who in 2018, with a time of 26: 41, eclipsed the previous record (26:54), held by Eliud Kipchoge since 2006.

The first kilometres were a tough test and the 5,000m mark was reached in 13:17 by only three runners, Cheptegei, Katir and Jesús Ramos from Madrid.

Cheptegei entered the Vallecas Stadium alone, receiving a standing ovation from the large audience that cheered him on when he crossed the finish line.

Young Ugandan Prisca Chesang won the women’s category with a time of 30:19. The second place went to Burundian Francine Niyonsaba in 30:58. Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech finished third in 31:06.

Leading Results Men 10km International

Pos.	Name	Result	Ave. Pace KM.
1	Joshua Cheptegei	0:27:09	2’42″/km
2	Mohamed Katir El Haouzi	0:27:19	2’43″/km
3	Jesus Ramos Reviejo	0:27:52	2’47″/km
4	Sergio Paniagua Escobar	0:28:00	2’48″/km
5	Aaron De Las Heras Ruperez	0:28:04	2’48″/km
6	Carlos Mayo	0:28:04	2’48″/km
7	Ignacio Fontes-Garcia Balibrea	0:28:06	2’48″/km
8	Carlos Diaz Del Rio	0:28:08	2’48″/km
9	Nassim Hassaous Garcia	0:28:13	2’49″/km
10	Juan A. Perez Moreno	0:28:18	2’49″/km
11	Fernando Carro Morillo	0:28:35	2’51″/km
12	Jorge Blanco Alvarez	0:28:36	2’51″/km
13	Daniel Mateo Angulo	0:28:37	2’51″/km
14	Ilias Aouani	0:28:45	2’52″/km
15	Lahcen Ait Alibou Ouhada	0:28:51	2’53″/km

Leading Results Women 10km International

Pos.	Name	Result	Ave. Pace KM.
1	Prisca Chesang	30:19	3:02/km
2	Francine Niyonsaba	30:58	3:05/km
3	Beatrice Chepkoech	31:06	3:06/km
4	Mahelet Mulugeta	31:57	3:11/km
5	Naima Ait Alibou Ouhada	32:49	3:15/km
6	Laura Priego Montero	32:49	3:16/km
7	Nina Chydenius	32:51	3:17/km
8	Laura Luengo Caselles	32:52	3:17/km
9	Laura Mendez Esquer	33:06	3:18/km
10	Irene Pelayo Gonzalez	33:27	3:20/km

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei has been ranked among the top winners in 2022 for the men’s 10,000m by World Athletics.

Cheptegei became the fourth man to win back-to-back world 10,000m titles, successfully defending the crown he claimed in Doha with a 27:27.43 run in Oregon.

The 26-year-old, who broke world records in both the 5000m and 10,000m in 2020 retained his title in 27:27.43.

Kenya’s Stanley Waithaka Mburu won silver in 27:27.90, while Jacob Kiplimo ran 27:27.97 to add world bronze to his Olympic medal.

Cheptegei finished ninth in the world 5000m final before closing his season, while Kiplimo decided to double at the Commonwealth Games and won the 10,000m title before also getting gold in the 5000m.

Major winners

World Championships: Joshua Cheptegei UGA 27:27.43
African Championships: Mogos Tuemay ETH 29:19.01
European Championships: Yemaneberhan Crippa ITA 27:46.13
NACAC Championships: Sean McGorty USA 29:23.77
Oceania Championships: Tim Vincent AUS 29:49.66
Commonwealth Games: Jacob Kiplimo UGA 27:09.19

World record-holder Jacob Kiplimo topped the world list for the third year in a row in the men’s Half Marathon when he produced his third successive season of sub-58-minute half marathons.

The Ugandan ran 57:56 to win in Ras Al Khaimah in February and posted 25 seconds shy of his own world record.

He defeated Kenya’s Rodgers Kwemoi (58:30) by 34 seconds and even though the next five athletes all finished inside 59 minutes.

Kenyan nemesis Kibiwott Kandie ranked second, fellow countrymen Daniel Mateiko third and Rhonex Kipruto fourth while Amedework Walelegn fifth.

World Athletics Rankings

1	Keely Hodgkinson 🇬🇧 GBR	1420
2	Mary Moraa 🇰🇪 KEN	1417
3	Natoya Goule 🇯🇲 JAM	1388
4	Athing Mu 🇺🇸 USA	1385
5	Ajee Wilson 🇺🇸 USA	1373

Season Top List

57:56	Jacob Kiplimo 🇺🇬 UGA	Ras Al Khaimah	19 February
58:10	Kibiwott Kandie 🇰🇪 KEN	Valencia	23 October
58:30	Rodgers Kwemoi 🇰🇪 KEN	Ras Al Khaimah	19 February
58:32	Yomif Kejelcha 🇪🇹 ETH	Valencia	23 October
58:35	Keneth Kiprop Renju 🇰🇪 KEN	Ras Al Khaimah	19 February

Ugandan long-distance runner Joshua Cheptegei will go at fellow countryman, Jacob Kiplimo’s San Silvestre Vallecana 10km course record on the streets of Madrid Saturday, December 31.

The World record holder in the 5000m and 10000m and Olympic 5000m gold medalist from Tokyo 2020 will attempt to lower Kiplimo’s 26:39 event record from 2018, which, at the time, was the World record.

The men’s 10km World record is currently at 26:24, set by Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto in 2020 and Cheptegei could also eclipse it if all conditions favour him.

Cheptegei will battle Spanish middle-distance runner Mohammed Katir who is the defending Champion from last year.

The event will close Cheptegei’s stellar season after winning the 5000m Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, the 10,000m Oregon World Athletics Championships and 10km de Cannes in France.

Stella Chesang and teenager Martin Kiprotich Magengo were crowned winners at the Ugandan Cross Country Championships in Tororo on Saturday.

Chesang, the 2018 Commonwealth 10,000m champion, crossed the tape ahead of 40 runners in the senior women’s 10km race.

She staved off a tough challenge in Prisca Chesang Chemweno to win in 33:57. “I really enjoyed the race. This has been a good year for me,” Chesang told World Athletics.

Chesang will now lead Uganda’s senior women’s team at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst 23 on 18 February.

19-year-old Kiprotich posted a winning time of 29:35 ahead of Isaac Kibet (29:43) and Samuel Kibet (29:46)to win the senior men’s 10Km category.

“I didn’t expect to win because it was my first time to run against seniors,” said Kiprotich told World Athletics.

In the U20 women’s race, Isella Chebet of the Joshua Cheptegei Development Foundation (Jocdef) club beat Peace Hope Chemutai.

Leading results

Senior women (10km)
1 Stella Chesang 33:57
2 Prisca Chesang 34:06
3 Annet Chelangat 34:13
4 Doreen Chesang 34:26
5 Mercyline Chelangat 34:36
6 Rispa Cherop 34:45
7 Janat Chemusto 34:57
8 Sarah Chelangat 35:06

Senior men (10km)
1 Martin Kiprotich 29:35
2 Isaac Kibet 29:43
3 Samuel Kibet 29:46
4 Rogers Kibet 29:50
5 Denis Cherotich 29:51
6 Andrew Rotich Kwemoi 29:54
7 Leonard Chemutai 30:02
8 Nelson Wakana 30:08

U20 women (6km)
1 Isella Chebet 20:36
2 Peace Hope Chemutai 20:37
3 Charity Cherop 20:41
4 Teddy Simon Chekwemoi 20:43
5 Bantalin Yeko 20:46
6 Peace Chebet 20:51
7 Felister Chekwemoi 21:07
8 Risper Cherop 21:12

U20 men (10km)
1 Kenneth Kiprop 29:29
2 Silas Rotich 30:27
3 Dan Kibet 30:39
4 Alan Kibet 30:42
5 Feb Chelogoi 30:54
6 Hosea Chemutai 30:56
7 Elijah Cheptoek 31:03
8 James Kirwa 31:03

Race Day: Sunday, 18th December 2022
Start on Indira Gandhi Sarani Road & Finish on Red Road, Kolkata, India
Race category distance: 25 km

Ugandan Commonwealth Gold medallist Victor Kiplangat will headline the Kolkata 25K race alongside top elite runners at the 2022 edition of Kolkata 25K, being held on Sunday, 18th December 2022.

Kiplangat returns to the world scene after winning gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the men’s marathon event, despite taking a wrong turn close to the end of the course.

He posted 2:10:55 to cross the tape just before Tanzania’s Simbu Alphonce Felix and Kenya’s Githae Michael Muggo.

This year alone, Kiplangat has already been to Belgium where he won the Runners’ Lab Halve Marathon in Gent. He also finished fourth at the Haspa Marathon.

Defending champion and course record holder Leonard Barsoton of Kenya and two-time Tokyo marathon winner Birhanu Legese of Ethiopia are also expected to race in Kolkata.

Legendary cricketer Jhulan Goswami and actor Subhashree Ganguly have committed to cheering the Ananda Run participants.

On Saturday, Ugandan Long-distance runner Jacob Kiplimo claimed the regional cross-country championships held at Tuban playgrounds in Kapchorwa Municipality.

The 2022 Commonwealth double Gold medalist, completed the 10km race victory in 29:42.02, Martin Magengo Kiprotich was 2nd in 30:11.99 while Caleb Dismas Yeko came third in 30:21.53.

Kiplimo said the win had given him hopes of a spectacular performance in the National cross country Championships set for December 10th in Tororo.

Rebecca Cheptegei won the senior women’s category after reaching the tape at 34:02.67 to defeat Janat Chemusto who crossed the finishing line at 35:07.9 and Belinda Chemutai who came third in 35:56.4.

“What helped me was the training I did while preparing for the Half Marathon, now I have enough endurance, I just need to work on speed,” Cheptegei told URN in Kapchorwa.

The national cross country championships scheduled for December 11th will be used to select the final National team representing Uganda at the World cross country championships in Australia, on February 2023.