NCS’s Katende flags the team off on Tuesday (Photo by Shaban Lubega)
A total of 27 Athletes have on Tuesday afternoon, been flagged off for the 2019 World Cross Country Championships.
The 43rd edition of the annual event will take place in Aarhus, Denmark at the Moesgaard Museum on March 30th.
As he was flagging the team off, National Council of Sports, General Secretary David Katende encouraged the athletes to remain focussed as the government is fully behind them.
“As Government, we shoulder the responsibility to support these events fully, said Katende.
“To you athletes, don’t get scared about the competition, remain focussed because we are all behind you.
Team Uganda which flies out of the Country on Tuesday night will be led by long distance runners Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo.
Cheptegei is the current Commonwealth Champion after winning both the 5 and 10k races in Gold Coast last year.
Cheptegei said that he is expecting the best performance as Uganda has a strong team and the morale is high.
“Am a man of surprise, I won’t promise, said Cheptegei.
“Am expecting the best performance. Everyone is focused, the morale is high, and we have a strong team both mentally and physically.
“It is going to be very tough, it will not be very easy, but am hoping for the best.
Cheptegei ran out of steam in and collapsed at the 2017 event held in Uganda.
For Kiplimo, he won the nation’s first individual World Cross country gold when the event was held in Kololo, Kampala.
He hopes to win something come 30th.
“I hope I can bring something from there, he said.
“We have trained well and very focussed
Sarah Chelangat, Hosea Kiplagat and Stella Chesang are the other big hopes to bag a medal.
The team that has been training in Kapchorwa, will field runners in Junior Women (6KM), Junior Men (8KM), Senior Women (10 KM), Senior Men (10 KM) and Men and Women mixed relays (8KM).
In his long speech, UAF president Dominic Otuchet commended the government for the support, claiming that they have chosen the right sport that raises the country’s flag.
The Team:
Junior Team
Chelangat Sarah, Chesang Annet, Chekwomoi Esther Yeko, Chalangat Rebecca, Chelangat Leah.
Senior
Chesang Stella, Chebet Zena Racheal, Chebet Esther, Chekwel Juliet, Chesang Doreen, Chemutai Peruth
Junior Men
Kiplagat Hosea, Chebet Daniel, Chekrui Mathew Job, Chebet Samuel, Oscar Chelimo, Denis Chelotic.
Senior Men
Jacob Kiplimo, Joshua Cheptegei Kiprui, Albert Chemutai, Ayiekho Thomas, Rotich Maxwell Kotex.
Mixed Relay
Dorcus Ajok, Sylvia Chelangat, Ronald Musagala, Daniel Kiprop
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