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Uganda’s Janat Chemusto has scooped another silver medal in Europe, this time in Paris at the Mile Women Finals. 

Chemusto, 24, crossed the line in 4:23.65, narrowly missing out on gold.   

“Not what I wanted but not a bad outcome at all,” Chemusto told New Vision.   

“It was a race of fine margins and I think there is room for improvement,” the 2014 Commonwealth Youth Games 3000m bronze winner added after Sunday's race.  

American runner Nikki Hiltz emerged as the winner of the race with a world-leading time of 4:22.07.  

Focus on Budapest 

The Kapchorwa-born runner continues to impress in her build-up to the World Athletics Championships that will be held in Budapest, Hungary.   

A couple of weeks ago, she clocked 4:01.79 to become Uganda’s second-fastest female athlete in the 1500m. Only national record holder Winnie Nanyondo (3:59.56) is faster. 

The lanky runner’s recent form has seen her finish within the medal bracket in all six of her last international competitions.   

On June 4, she clinched her maiden FBK Games bronze in the Netherlands, to go with the gold medal won in Belgium, gold in Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, and gold at the 2022 MTN Kampala Marathon.    

She also won silver in the 2022 South Sudan Games and bronze at the 2022 World Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkey.    

Contender 

Her performances have impressed many and Olympian Jacob Kiplimo’s residential coach, Peter Chelangat, is one of them. 

“If she keeps focused like the way she is right now, she will be a medal contender in Budapest,” Chelangat said.  

She still has one more race in Norway next weekend to end her month-long European stay before returning to Uganda to prepare for Budapest.   

“I still have one race to demonstrate my potential before I return to Kapchorwa to solely focus on Budapest,” she said.    

Chelangat is trained by Dutchman Addy Ruiter of the NN Running Team with the likes of Olympic champions Joshua Cheptegei and Peruth Chemutai from whom she draws inspiration.   

“They have both encouraged and guided me in the best way possible. Peruth is a very close childhood friend and we have a strong connection now as well,” she remarked.