Uganda's U20 athletics team returns home from World Championships

Uganda's U20 national athletics team returned home today from Eugene, Oregon, USA, where they competed at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships, which concluded on Monday.

Uganda secured two medals at the championships, with Charity Cherop winning gold in the 5000m and bronze in the 3000m.

Uganda Athletics publicity secretary Namayo Mawerere praised the team's performance, saying the medals and several finalists were a sign of progress.

"We won two medals. Apart from the medals, we had athletes who reached the finals, which is a sign of progress. These athletes are promising, and we expect them to put up a good show in Dakar, Senegal, during the Youth Olympic Games," Mawerere said.

Cherop, who has now completed her junior career, is already looking ahead to the senior level, with the 2027 World Athletics Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games among her targets.

Coach Immaculate Chemutai (right), Charity Cherop (centre) and coach Jimmy Adhar

"Now that I am done with the junior level, I want to train so hard and win a medal at the senior level as well," Cherop said.

Cherop's gold in Eugene adds to an impressive junior record that includes a silver medal in the 5000m at the 2024 World U20 Championships.

Uganda was represented by 11 athletes – four women and seven men – at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships. Besides Cherop's medals, several Ugandan athletes progressed to the finals, providing encouragement for the country's future in middle- and long-distance running.

Uganda finished 15th on the medal table with two medals. The United States topped the standings with 24 medals, followed by Kenya with 11.