Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek delivered the standout performance for the country on day one of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing seventh in the women’s 10,000m final with a time of 31:15.03.
Cheptoyek ran strongly in the early stages and held her own against a stacked field led by Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet, who eventually powered away to win the gold medal in 30:37.61.
Italy’s Nadia Battocletti claimed silver, while Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay took bronze.
While Cheptoyek secured a top-ten finish, it was a tough night for her compatriots.
Rebecca Chelangat and Sarah Chelangat were both unable to complete the race, dropping out before the closing stages.
Their exits left Cheptoyek as Uganda’s sole finisher in the highly competitive field.
Despite missing out on the medal places, Cheptoyek’s seventh-place finish puts her among the top performers on the global stage and gives Uganda reason for optimism as the championships continue.
