Uganda delivered a strong all round performance at the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, finishing the event with individual medals and team podium places across senior and junior categories.
The standout moment came in the senior men’s 10km where Jacob Kiplimo secured a historic third consecutive world cross country title.
Kiplimo led the race to the finish to take gold, helping Uganda place third in the team standings with 39 points behind Ethiopia and Kenya. Dolphine Chelimo and Keneth Kiprop both finished inside the top 10 to strengthen Uganda’s team score.
In the senior women’s 10km, Uganda also finished third in the team competition with 37 points.
Joy Cheptoyek claimed individual silver after a strong run, while Rispa Cherop and Sarah Chelangat added solid finishes to keep Uganda on the podium behind Ethiopia and Kenya.
Uganda’s junior athletes again underlined the country’s depth.
The Under 20 women secured the team title after placing all four scoring runners inside the top 10.
Charity Cherop won bronze in the individual race as Uganda edged Kenya on countback after both teams finished level on 29 points.
The Under 20 men delivered another podium finish for Uganda with second place in the team standings on 31 points, behind Kenya.
Multiple Ugandan runners placed well inside the top group, confirming the strength of the next generation.
Across the championships, Uganda finished with a senior men’s individual gold, senior women’s individual silver, an Under 20 women’s team title, and podium team finishes in three other races, marking another successful global outing for one of the world’s leading distance running nations.
