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Since the 2019 triumph, Cheptegei has been unstoppable! He has gone on to win the Olympic 5,000m gold and 10,000m silver medals in Tokyo, two 10,000 m gold in the World Championships in Doha 2019 and Eugene (In the USA) last year and more records.
The world Cross country returns after a four-year lull. A coveted race that was once every year has had to wait for four years for the Coronavirus pandemic to clear out.
The foot race returns this Saturday with all eyes on the star of the moment, Joshua Cheptegei attempting to defend the historic 10km senior men’s crown he won at the 2019 event in Aarhus, Denmark.
By that victory in 2019, Cheptegei became the first Ugandan to attain that fete as compatriot Jacob Kiplimo completed a colourful 1-2.
The two spelt an end to Kenya and Ethiopia’s dominance while steering Uganda to her first team gold at the championship that started way back in March 1973 in Waregem, Belgium.
Kenya and Ethiopia had exclusively dominated the team gold for 34 years since 1981. They had also provided a gold medallist in 13 of the last 14 editions prior to 2019.
Redemption
The Aarhus race was not just another event for Cheptegei, it was sacred. The-then 22-year-old was picking himself up after a disappointing race in 2017 on home soil.
Cheptegei was Uganda’s favourite in Kololo 2017 but along the way, and while in firm control, suffered a meltdown in the last kilometre of the race.
He had opened an 11-second lead from Kamworor into the final lap but the collapse dragged him 29 places at the end.
“I can proudly say that I am a better athlete because of the incident in 2017,” Cheptegei said during the pre-race press conference on Friday morning.
That collapse paved way for Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor to take over and defend his title after posting a time of 28 minutes and 24 seconds. Cheptegei ended up 30th after arriving after 30 minutes and 8 seconds.
Ironically, he won it in Aarhus in 31:40. That’s the beauty of the cross country, regarded as the trickiest and most difficult race that pits all top runners together.
Gold rush
Since the 2019 triumph, Cheptegei has been unstoppable! He has gone on to win the Olympic 5,000m gold and 10,000m silver medals in Tokyo, two 10,000 m gold in the World Championships in Doha 2019 and Eugene (In the USA) last year and more records.
However, it will not be an easy stroll for the 26-year-old Ugandan. The field will be star-studded and he knows that well. First, his main challengers from the 2019 race Jacob Kiplimo and Kamworor are both in contention alongside Ethiopian Selemon Barega who finished fifth.
“It’s exciting that the people who shared the podium in 2019 are all back here. I know it’s going to be mind-blowing and will be something that will stay in our hearts and minds for a long time,” said Cheptegei.
Jacob Kiplimo
For sometime now, Kiplimo has been running in the shadows of Cheptegei. Others call him the winning partner.
He holds the record of the youngest Ugandan Olympian ever. At 15 years, a young Kiplimo debuted at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Whereas the 2017 World Cross Country was one to forget for Cheptegei, Kiplimo seized the moment to shoot into fame by winning gold in the Junior race.
The 22-year old followed that with silver at the World Junior Championships in Finland in 2018, an upgrade from the third-place finish at the same event two years back.
He combined with Cheptegei to win the first-ever team gold for Uganda in the senior men’s race Aarhus 2019. He took silver.
Kiplimo went on to win gold and set a championship record at the Half-marathon World Championships in Poland in October 2020, and silver at the prestigious Valencia Half Marathon in December of the same year.
On Saturday, Kiplimo arrives in Bathurst, Australia as an Olympic and World bronze medallist in the 10,000m races, finishing behind Cheptegei in both.
Geoffrey Kamworor
Kamworor needs no further introductions. The Kenyan goes into the Saturday race as the most decorated of the group. Kamworor, 30, won the World Cross Country junior race in 2011. From there on, he was on ascendancy winning at least a world championship every year from 2014 to 2018 (3 Half marathons in 2014, 2016 &2018 and 2 X-country in 2015 & 2017). He won two golds, a silver and three bronze medals in the major marathons since 2012. Kamworor is seeking his ninth medal from Saturday’s race.
Other notable compeitiors for Cheptegei include Ethiopian Selemon Barega and the Ethiopian and Kenyan contingents. Barega had announced that he wouldn’t take part but a late twist of events has seen him registered. The Ethiopian may have a small issue to sort after beating Cheptegei to the finishing line for the Olympic 10,000m gold.
World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst 2023
Ugandan by events
Senior men - Joshua Cheptegei, Isaac Kibet, Rogers Kibet, Samuel Kibet, Jacob Kiplimo, Martin Magengo Kiprotich
Junior men - Feb Chelegoi, Hosea Chemutai, Allan Kibet, Dan Kibet, Keneth Kiprop, Sailas Rotich
Senior Women - Annet Chemengich Chelangat, Mercyline Chelangat, Rispa Cherop, Doreen Chesang, Prisca Chesang, Stella Chesang
Junior Women - Peace Chebet, Felister Chekwemoi, Charity Cherop, Risper Cherop, Bentalin Yeko
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