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A team of up to 28 athletes led by world 10000m and 5000m record holder Joshua Cheptegei is already in host city Bathurst for the event that is due this Saturday, February 18, at the infield of the Mount Panorama Circuit.
Uganda Sports Minister for Sport Hon. Peter Ogwang has implored Uganda’s team headed for the World Cross Cournty Championship in Australia to sieze the moment and make the country proud.
A team of up to 28 athletes led by world 10000m and 5000m record holder Joshua Cheptegei are already in host city Bathurst for the event that is due this Saturday at the infield of the Mount Panorama Circuit.
Uganda will be looking at defending their team gold from the senior men’s race as well as improving on team bronze in the senior women’s race from Arhus, Denmark in 2019.
“This is our time, go and seize the moment,” Ogwang told the athletes as they prepared for their 14 hour flight from Entebbe to Australia’s capital Sydney.
“I know all the other countries are determined to beat Uganda, and will be sending their best athletes for this event, but I can assure that no-one is better prepared than our athletes.”
“I am confident in your ability to make Uganda proud, and I re-echo that I am committed to ensuring that all the resources required for you to perform at the highest level possible are availed to you on time without fail," Ogwang urged on the athletes.
Cheptegei who made amends for his disastrous failure in 2017 in Kampala by taking gold in Denmark three years ago will be chasing to defend his title.
Jacob Kiplimo, who took silver behind Cheptegei in 2019, and 2018 Commonwealth Games 10,000m gold medallist Stella Chesang are also part of the team.
Coaches Benjamin Njia Francis Demayi and Quito Oding will steer the team in Bathurst as they strive to overcome the challenge posed by neighbours Kenya and Ethiopia who have been dominant in the championship.
The 50th edition of the competition will kick off with the mixed relay, followed by the junior women's and men's races.
The senior women's and men's races both covering a course of 10km will be the climax of the event, before the medal ceremonies.
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