Joy Cheptoyek’s sixth place in the women’s 5km finish was the highlight of a low-grade display by Uganda at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in the Latvian capital Riga over the weekend.

The fifth-place finish in the men’s team half-marathon standings rounded out Uganda’s top eight performances on a day when regional rivals Kenya and Ethiopia helped themselves to a plethora of medals.

A team of 14 represented Uganda at the event, which saw Jacob Kiplimo crowned men’s half marathon champion in 2019, and a bronze medal secured in the men’s half marathon team rankings.

Uganda Wildlife Authority's Prisca Chesang in action during the 1500m race during the 5th National Athletics Trials at Namboole, April 10, 2021.She won the race in 4:14.50. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

With Kiplimo out of the competition after failing to regain full fitness from the injury that kept him out of the World Athletics Championships, Uganda’s hopes rested in the likes of Peruth Chemutai, who raced in the women’s 5km, Leonard Chemutai (men’s 5km), and Dismas Yeko (5km).

But the bigger names fell woefully short, with Chemutai coming 23rd in the women’s 5km, Chemutai 16th in the men’s 5km, and Yeko 34th.

Youngster Prisca Chesang, regarded as a future star, could only finish 18th in the women’s mile, with the more experienced Winnie Nanyondo failing to finish in the same race.