In a landmark achievement for Ugandan athletics, Charity Cherop stormed to bronze in the women’s Under-20 6km race at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships held at Apalachee Regional Park. This marked Uganda’s first-ever individual medal in the women’s U20 category at the global event.
Ethiopia’s Marta Alemayo successfully defended her title, dominating the race with a winning time of 18:52, finishing 26 seconds ahead of her compatriot Wosane Asefa, who took silver in 19:18. Cherop battled fiercely in the closing stages, crossing the line in 19:19—just one second behind Asefa—after a strong performance on the challenging, muddy course featuring sand, water, and tough loops.
Cherop’s podium finish is extra special as it breaks a long-standing pattern—becoming the first non-Kenyan or Ethiopian woman to medal in the U20 women’s race since 2000.
But the celebration didn’t stop there. Led by Cherop, Uganda’s full U20 women’s team—Peace Chebet, Felister Chekwemoi, Nancy Chepkwurui, Charity Cherop, and Bentalin Yeko—delivered a collective masterclass. With four athletes finishing in the top 10, they clinched team gold with 29 points, edging out Kenya (also 29 points, decided on countback) and securing Japan in third.
This is a historic first for Uganda: the inaugural team gold in the women’s U20 category at the World Cross Country Championships, ending decades of dominance by Kenya and Ethiopia (who were limited in the event due to visa issues affecting their full squad).
Cherop, a world U20 5000m bronze medallist and national record holder over 3000m and 5000m, positioned herself in the early lead pack before showcasing her grit in the final loop. Her teammates’ consistent top finishes sealed the team triumph on a day that will be remembered as a turning point for Ugandan distance running.
Uganda’s medal haul continues to grow at these championships, adding to individual successes in other categories and highlighting the nation’s rising depth in cross country.
Congratulations to Charity Cherop and the entire Ugandan U20 women’s team on this double historic feat—individual bronze and team gold! The future of Ugandan athletics shines brighter than ever!
