World Cross Country: Did you know?

Mar 15, 2017

Did you know that Uganda’s first medal was a team bronze in the men’s juniors in 2000?

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Uganda is hosting the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships on March 26. Here is some bit of information about this tournmanent that you could chew on in our 'Did you know' compilation.

- Uganda made its inaugural appearance at the World Cross Country in 1996. This was the 24th edition of the then annual competition in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

- Godfrey Nyombi in 102 position was Uganda's best performer followed by Alex Malinga at 113. Ronald Mujuni was third at 131. Next was Clement Omagoro at 157, Ben Chesang 177, Milton Andabati 193 and Boaz Matsiko 200.

- Kenya's Paul Tergat won the senior men's 12.15 kilometre race in 33:44 minutes.

- Uganda's second appearance was in the Italian city of Turin at the Parco del Valentino in 1997. Uganda that time featured in the junior men's race.

- Godfrey Nyombi finished eighth; Jafred Lorone 13, Ben Chesang 32 and Vincent Moroga 82.

- Uganda's best performance has been silver. Moses Kipsiro finished second in 2009 in Jordan Amman in the senior men's race. Uganda's Boniface Kiprop also won silver as a junior in 2003 and 2004. Thomas Ayeko was also a silver medalist in the juniors category in 2011.

- Uganda's first medal was a team bronze in the men's juniors in 2000. The team comprised of Martin Toroitich in 11th position, Paul Wakou (15), Job Sikoria (20), Johnny Okello (22). Boniface Kiprop who was 27th did not score.

- Between 2000 and 2004 Uganda won four consecutive bronze medals in the junior men's event. Uganda has won a total of eight team bronze in this category.

- Uganda's best female performance has been team bronze. This was by the juniors in 2010 and seniors in 2015 in Guiyang, China.

- In an incredible show of dominance, the senior men's team race has been won by Ethiopia or Kenya every year since 1981 in both the short and long races. These nations have enjoyed a similar stranglehold on the junior men's races since 1982.

- In the senior men's 12 km race, Kenya won the world championships for an astounding 18 years in a row, from 1986 through 2003, a record unequaled.

 

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