Hosea Chemutai and Jacob Sande are set to make history today as they compete in the finals at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru. Their performances could further solidify what is already Uganda’s best showing at the prestigious event.
Uganda’s team has already secured three medals: a silver from Loice Chekwemoi in the steeplechase and bronze medals from Keneth Kiprop and Charity Cherop in the 5000m. This achievement surpasses any previous performances by the nation at the junior championships, where Uganda typically returns home with only one medal. The team’s best prior results were two medals, achieved in 2010, 2018, and 2021.
Chemutai, 17, will be the first in action today, competing in the 3,000m steeplechase. He faces stiff competition from Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes, who are favorites in the event. However, Chemutai has demonstrated his potential by running a personal best of 8:44.43, which ranks as the fifth-best time in the qualifiers.
Jacob Sande, also 17, will close Uganda’s participation in Lima when he competes in the 1,500m final. Sande impressed in the heats with a time of 3:43.64, placing him fifth among the 15 finalists.
Ethiopia’s Aleshign Baweke claimed the 3000m gold in Lima with a time of 8:50.32, narrowly beating Uganda’s Keziah Chebet and Bentalin Yeko, who finished 6th and 7th, respectively, in Friday’s final.
The highlight of Uganda’s performance so far has been Loice Chekwemoi’s silver medal in the steeplechase. The 17-year-old African champion became the seventh Ugandan girl to bring home a medal from the World Juniors, following in the footsteps of Peruth Chemutai, Dorcas Inzikuru, Prisca Chesang, Winnie Jemutai, Annet Negesa, and Charity Cherop.
This year marks the first time Lima is hosting the World Athletics U20 Championships, bringing together more than 1,700 athletes from 130 teams. Uganda’s athletes are poised to leave a lasting mark on the global stage, and all eyes will be on Chemutai and Sande as they aim to add to the nation’s medal tally.