Women’s 10,000m final

S. Chelangat (10th)

S. Chesang (16th)

Men’s 1500m heats

A.      Mayanja (12th)

Today Men’s 10,000m

Time: 7.25pm

Uganda’s team: J. Cheptegei, R. Kibet & J. Ayeko

Joshua Cheptegei will seek to win a third consecutive 10,000m world title when he takes on a strong field of challengers led by Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi tonight in the men’s 10,000m final at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary.

Cheptegei has dominated the last two finals, held in Oregon and Doha last year and 2019 respectively, with two second place finishes at the 2020 Olympic Games and 2017 World Athletics Championships also highlighting his run of success across the distance.

Cheptegei will lead a three-man Ugandan assault that also includes youngsters Rogers Kibet and Joel Ayeko. It should have been a four-man charge but for Jacob Kiplimo pulling out of the Championships due to a hamstring tear.

Kiplimo’s absence has not only deprived Uganda of clear medal prospects, but it has also complicated Uganda’s team tactics, as it will save the opposition of having to plan for two contenders. Still, in Kibet and Ayeko, Uganda has two pieces that can play a crucial role in helping control the early part of the race.

If Kibet and Ayeko can speed up the race from the start, that should increase Cheptegei’s chances of winning the title, although the 10,000m world record holder is more than capable of dictating proceedings all by himself.

This will be the second final in Budapest featuring Ugandan athletes, after Sarah Chelangat and Stella Chesang took part in the women’s 10,000m final yesterday. Chelangat finished 10th in a time of 31:40.04, while Chesang settled for 16th with a time of 32:38.90.

On a day of relatively low fortunes for Uganda, only Leonard Chemutai was able to qualify from the heats, after a fifth-place finish in the second heat of the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Chemutai’s performance earned him a place in Tuesday’s final.

Winnie Nanyondo and Abu Mayanja both failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the women’s and men’s 1500m respectively. Nanyondo finished a surprise 12th in the fourth heat, while Mayanja, who went in the third heat also finished 12th.