The Uganda Athletics (UA) weekend 3rd National Track and Field Trial delivered quality competition registering 11 qualifiers for the World Athletics Under-20 Championships.
This marked the total number of Ugandan athletes who have hit the U20 World Athletics qualification standards now rising to 25 from 14 that earlier qualified in the last two National Trials held in March alone. See qualifiers list attached.
The number of qualifiers is however likely to hit a record high by the 2026 National Track and Field Championships season climax in June.
The U20 World Championships is slated to take place on August 4-9, 2026, in Hayward Field, Eugene, USA.
The Uganda Athletics (UA) President Domenic Otucet was enthusiastic about the development.
“The number of good athletes in the U20 category is very big and very good for the future of athletics in the country. That shows the great potential Uganda has and confirms what we saw last year that the biggest number of medals won came from the U20 athletes.
“That shows that Uganda is safe to continue to excel internationally in athletics. These are the same athletes who will graduate to the senior ranks soon.
“We aren’t worried about continuity. We are more confident that the foundation that we have laid is a firm foundation giving us a big number of excellent young athletes ready to replace the big names that we have now,” the President predicted.
Qualifiers (1st and 2nd Trials held on 14/03/26 & 28/03/26)
Women:
800m
Chebet Zumurah 2:08.16
1500m
Chekwemoi Felister 4:15.39,
Cherotwo Baskerine 4:15.98
Chekwemoi Brenda 4:21.39
5000m
Cherop Charity 15:17.35
Yeko Bentalin 16:02.41
Men:
800m
Murungi Shafeck 1:48.37
5000m
Cheptoyek Thomas 13:39.28
Kipyeko Dan 13:51.63
Ayeko Joshua 13:53.01
Kibet Michael 13:53.50
Kipyeko David 13:57.88
Kwemboi Ivan 13:58.48
Chemayek Solomon 14:02.00
Qualifiers (3rd trials held on 11/04/26)
Women
3000m
Yeko Bentalin 8: 57.07
Chekwemoi Felister 9:07.77
Chebet Peace 9:14.57
Chelimo Keren 9:18.86
Chelimo Rachael 9:23.41
Chebet Isella 9:24.19
Men
3000m
Kipyeko Dan 7:54.95
Kibet Michael 8:00.07
Kwemboi Ivan 8:01.93
Cherotich Levi 8:02.03
Chemayek Solomon 8:02.94
