Some fans may have baulked at the sight of Janat Chemusto racing in the middle-distance track & field events, but to the Ugandan long-distance-cum-middle runner, it completely felt “joyous and natural.” 

Though Chemusto won the 2014 Youth Commonwealth Games 3000m bronze medal, silver in South Sudan Games 2022 and a bronze medal at the World Islamic Solidarity Games 2022, in Konya, Turkey over the 5000m events, her overall performances in long-distance had dipped on several occasions. 

Having started her long-distance career on a good note Chemusto and many arm-chair coaches could not see her future brighter elsewhere, bar veteran athletics tactician Addy Ruiter.  

Janat Chemusto (L) is keenly watched as one of the future star runners for Uganda.

Since her return to Global Sports Communication – GSC Management Agency, under coach Ruiter’s training programme, alongside Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai, World Champion Halima Nakaayi and World multi-record holder Joshua Cheptegei, Chemusto has made overwhelming progress after being converted into short-distance.  

Actually, in her first spell at GSC Kapchorwa camp, Ruiter had intentions of converting Chemusto into steeplechase running for some reason, it did not materialise, this time around, the Uganda-based Dutchman did not waste any time when the runner re-signed with them – NN Running Team. 

Ruiter and NN Running Team are successfully moulding a lethal, strong and speedy 1,500-meters running merchant in Chemusto for Uganda.  

The 1500 metres race is the prominent middle-distance running event in athletics at the present moment.  

There are three and three-quarters laps in a 1500-metre track running event. What this means is that an athlete participating in a 1500-metre running event will have to run around a 400-meter track three full times, and then run another 3/4 of the track to complete a 1500 meters event. 

It is not a completely new concept for the Kapchorwa town born runner since part of her training program covers sprinting, pacing, middle racing, long distance, tempo run and the likes, albeit with underwhelming results. 

In the last few months of her second spell at GSC, however, Uganda athletics supporters were treated to a best of Chemusto compilation – medal bracket finishing, winning gold in majors, dominant European performances, breaking personal records and shattering the national 1500 record, bar for Winnie Nanyondo’s uncharted feat in the event.  

Chemusto’s ability and versatility to start off her new middle-distance field perfectly with either a positive curve or a negative curve, energy, strength, timely breakaways, endurance and a superb final kick at the homestretch has been eminently adorable.  

"I haven't raced it too much, but it feels comfortable," the 24-year-old told New Vision when asked whether this was a position, she could see her future in. 

"It feels natural, I will say that. It's somewhere I can see myself racing in. I want to make sure I am regularly on the national team for world majors and that was (just concluded European tour debut) a good foundation to build on." 

Along with Ruiter, Chemusto’s GSC which is headquartered in the Netherlands lined up over five international competitions for her in Europe in the last weeks to help build her confidence in running middle-distance as well as international experience and the jovial lanky starlet has hit the ceiling. 

"I think the event I've been racing in with my Agency, coach and country, it's a new avenue. It's still early doors, it's only the beginning and a learning curve for me, but it's important that when I get the opportunity, I take it." 

On Saturday, June 17, Chemusto was in Nice, France where she competed in a star-studded 1000m women's race and she overwhelmingly dominated the race en route to victory with a clock of 2:34.85, a world-leading time.  

Two days prior, Chemusto who turns up for Uganda Police Athletics Club birthed her personal best at Oslo Diamond League, Norway where she featured in the Women’s 1 Mile category finishing in 4:20.18. 

A week before, she had taken a silver medal after a scintillating one-mile race in the French capital of France with an even better time of 4:23.65.  

Chemusto also clinched her maiden FBK Games bronze medal in the Netherlands, on June 4 while racing in 1500m. 
 
The junior ranking policewoman crossed the line with a clock of 4mins, 01 second and 98 microseconds in a race won by Sifan Hassan. 

Prior to her FBK Games bronze medal, Janat stylishly scooped gold in Belgium, Gold in Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi Kenya and another Gold in MTN Uganda Marathon 2022 in Kampala.  

Overall, what Chemusto who lost a significant amount of her time of her career to childbirth has been able to achieve in the recent past is an epic situation report of her potential.   

On current form, only the World Half Marathon record holder Jacob Kiplimo is better than Chemusto’s run in among Ugandan elite athletes.  

“I strongly believe there is a lot more we can do together as long as I continue to work hard in training, being patient, positive and trusting the process,” the jovial Janat hoped. 

Ruiter does not want his athlete to get carried away with her new fortunes, but rather focus on perfecting her game in the training ground, emphasizing that “this is Janat’s (Chemusto) learning year.” 

“Nairobi was her best race,” Ruiter said, adding that; “but in other races, you saw that she is missing the experiences on this level.”  

“But to come to this level, you have to make it to this kind of race and do your best which she has done diligently because it helps me see what aspects of your game need to be improved on.”  

Succinctly, Chemusto’s consistency has vividly come off in middle-distance racing.  

What is more, is that she has qualified to represent Uganda at the forthcoming Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships in August where she will make her major debut in middle-distance alongside Nanyondo.  

Whether Chemusto remains Uganda’s new queen of 1500m for the future is debatable for now, and yet it all looks like her own field to lose.  

Uganda has not won a major medal over the 1500m so maybe the Prestigious streak has been waiting for the arrival of soft-spoken police officer – Janat.  

“My races in Europe for this month are done and it is high time I returned to Uganda to commence my training ahead of Budapest (World Champs 2023),” she said on Monday 19.