Uganda’s sole medalist at the just concluded IAAF World Championship in London, Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei returned home last night.
Cheptegei settled for a silver medal behind world champion Mohamad Farah of England. He set a personal best time of 26:49.94, while Farah set a time of 26:49.51.
The young athlete however did not take part in the 5,000m race because of injury. “We decided Cheptegei returns first. But we booked him to spend the night in Entebbe to wait for the other team members who will arrive this afternoon,” Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) treasurer, Godfrey Nuwagaba revealed.
After winning the medal Cheptegei dedicated his medal to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who he said helped him get urgent treatment after he got injured during the 2017 World Cross Country Championship held at the Kololo Independence ground.
Twenty one athletes qualified for the Championships although top runners Steven Kiprotich and Moses Kipsiro opted out because they were not well prepared. Female runners Juliet Chekwel and Adero Nyakisi also failed to travel to London because of injury.
In a related development, the National Council of Sports (NCS) will today hand over UGX1 million to every athlete who made the team and UGX1.5 million to the officials. Dr. Patrick Ogwel, the NCS assistant general secretary (administration) said that the money was meant for their allowances.
