Moses Kipsiro in the senior men's race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships (© Getty Images)
Having won medals at the previous five editions, Uganda missed out on a medal in 2013, despite having two top-five finishers in the senior men’s race. But the Ugandan team for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Guiyang 2015 looks formidable.
All five members of the senior men’s team have previously won medals at the World Cross. Moses Kipsiro has won individual silver and bronze medals in 2009 and 2010 respectively as well as team bronze medals in 2007 and 2011.
Moses Kibet took the individual junior bronze medal in 2009, followed by a junior team bronze in 2010 and senior team bronze in 2011. Geoffrey Kusuro, Phillip Kipyeko and Timothy Toroitich have all previously won team bronze medals either at the junior or senior level.
All five have been in good form this winter, too. Kipyeko won the Ugandan Cross Country Championships, while Kusuro recently clocked the fastest half-marathon performance by a Ugandan with his 59:43 run at the Rome-Ostia race.
Toroitich has won races in Venta de Banos and Amorebieta this winter, while Kibet and Kipsiro have recorded victories on the roads in Santurce and Trier respectively.
Chekwel finished ninth in the senior women’s race at the last World Cross and booked her place on the team after winning the Ugandan trials with a 27-second margin.
World junior 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei leads the junior men’s team, while Stella Chesang fronts the junior women’s quintet.
IAAF
Ugandan team for Guiyang 2015
Senior men: Moses Kibet, Moses Kipsiro, Phillip Kipyeko, Geofrey Kusuro, Timothy Toroitich
Senior women: Nyakisi Adero, Emily Chebet, Juliet Chekwel, Patricia Chepkwemoi, Nancy Cheptegei
Junior men: Mande Bushendich, Abel Chebet, Robert Chemonges, Joshua Cheptegei, Fred Musobo
Junior women: Rachael Chebet, Mercyline Chelangat, Janat Chemusto, Doreen Chemutai, Stella Chesang
