Fresh off his record-breaking victory at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, Uganda’s long-distance star Jacob Kiplimo has already turned his focus to his next major goal, defending his world title at the 2025 World Cross Country Championships set for January 10, 2026, in Florida, USA.
Speaking at a welcome-home ceremony held at Cooper Chimney, Lugogo, Kiplimo said he would take only a short break before resuming full training ahead of the global event.
The 24-year-old, who stormed to marathon glory in Chicago with a time of 2:02:21, said his attention is now on retaining the world title he won in Belgrade in 2024.
“My focus right now is to take a short rest and get back to serious training as I prepare to defend my World Cross Country Championship title in Florida next January,” Kiplimo told reporters.
The double world cross country champion has enjoyed an exceptional run of form across different distances, seamlessly transitioning from track to the road while maintaining dominance in cross country.
His recent Chicago win not only broke the Ugandan national marathon record but also reaffirmed his reputation as one of the most versatile and consistent distance runners in the world.
Uganda Athletics Federation officials, who attended the ceremony, praised Kiplimo for his dedication and discipline, describing him as a model athlete who continues to elevate Uganda’s name on the global stage.
