In a spectacular start to the 2026 athletics season, Uganda delivered its best-ever performance at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships held on January 10, 2026, at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida, USA. Team Uganda returned home with an impressive haul of 7 medals — the highest ever for Uganda at this prestigious global event — comprising 2 Gold, 2 Silver, and 3 Bronze.
The star of the show was Jacob Kiplimo, who defended his senior men’s 10km title in commanding fashion, clocking 28:18 to claim Gold and complete a historic back-to-back-to-back treble (three consecutive senior world cross country titles). This places him among legends like Kenenisa Bekele, Paul Tergat, and John Ngugi.
A groundbreaking achievement came in the Junior Women category, where Uganda clinched their first-ever Team Gold medal. Charity Cherop led the charge with a superb individual Bronze (19:19), becoming the first Ugandan woman to medal individually in the U20 women’s race and breaking the long-standing Kenya-Ethiopia dominance on the podium.
Out of the 26 athletes Uganda entered, an astonishing 24 contributed to the medal tally in some way — the biggest number ever recorded for the nation at the World Cross Country Championships.
Full Medal Tally Summary Individual Medals
- Jacob Kiplimo: Gold (Senior Men)
- Joy Cheptoyek: Silver (Senior Women)
- Charity Cherop: Bronze (Junior Women)
Team Medals
- Junior Women: Gold
- Junior Men: Silver
- Senior Women: Bronze
- Senior Men: Bronze
Adding to the pride, Uganda’s Beatrice Ayikoru was appointed as Technical Delegate for this elite tournament — a first and a testament to Ugandan expertise on the global stage.
This phenomenal showing in Tallahassee not only opens the 2026 season on a high note but also cements Uganda’s rising status as a powerhouse in distance running. The future looks bright for Ugandan athletics!
