Cheptegei, Orogot to lead Uganda’s athletics team to Eugene

Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) has released a list of 17 athletes to represent Uganda at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon from July 15-24.

The team has 10 men and seven women who managed to hit the qualifying mark before June 26. The pick of the bunch is Tarsis Orogot (200m) who will take his place in Oregon by virtue of finishing 57th in the world rankings.

World 10,000m record holder and champion, Joshua Cheptegei, will lead the charge for Uganda alongside Halima Nakaayi who is the defending champion of the women’s 800m.

Nakaayi has been nowhere near the form that propelled her to a maiden world title in Doha, but she emerged third in the World Indoor Championships for starters.

Team Uganda’s distance runners have entered residential training in Kapchorwa. Cheptegei, Peruth Chemutai and Jacob Kiplimo are some of those that are already in camp.

“The world athletics athletes will be joined by 18 other athletes going to the commonwealth games in Birmingham and later the ones going for the world U-20 championships in Cali Colombia,” said UAF publicity secretary Abdallah Muhammed.

Men: Tarsis Orogot (200m), Ronald Musagala (1500m), Maru Peter (5000m), Oscar Chelimo (5000m), Joshua Cheptegei (5000m/10000m), Jacob Kiplimo (5000m/10000m), Kisa Stephen (10,000m), Fred Musobo(marathon), Jackson Kiprop (marathon) and Felix Chemonges (marathon)

Women: Halima Nakaayi (800m), Winnie Nanyondo (1500m), Peruth Chemutai(3000m SC) Esther Chebet (5000m), Mercyline Chelangat (10000m) and Immaculate Chemutai (marathon).