A contingent of 26 athletes and four officials was flagged off by the National Council of Sports (NCS) on Monday, bound for the 46th World Cross Country Championships in Florida, USA.
The team, led by reigning champion Jacob Kiplimo, aims to build on Uganda’s successful track record, having won one individual medal and four team medals in the previous edition in Serbia.
Kiplimo, seeking a third consecutive senior 10km title, has been training in Kapchorwa for over a month with his team.
The General Secretary of the National Council of Sports, Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel, praised Uganda Athletics, describing it as a “national blessing” that has put Uganda on the global map.
“When I travel abroad, people take pictures with me because of you. Athletics has made this country proud and it is the reason why the government has it as a priority sport when it comes to facilitation and funding,” Ogwel noted.
Ogwel lauded the Uganda Athletics Federation for its well-structured player development program and challenged other federations to follow suit.
He also reminded athletes of the government’s commitment to prioritizing their welfare, including plans to reward athletes, which is being incorporated into the NCS legal framework.
Meanwhile, Uganda Athletics General Secretary Beatrice Ayikoru will make history as the technical delegate at the championships, appointed by World Athletics to oversee technical preparations and ensure compliance with international standards.
Ayikoru’s appointment is a testament to her expertise, having served on the technical commission for World Cross Country Championships and World Athletics Championships.
The team is optimistic about improving on their previous performance, with Kiplimo leading the charge as a proven champion. The championships are set to take place this Saturday in Florida, USA.
