Know your 2017 IAAF stars: Doreen Chesang

Her role model is world 10,000 meter record holder Almaz Ayana. Chesang was amongst those who wildly celebrated the Ethiopian star obliterated the record at the Rio Olympics.

Chesang was disappointed on learning that the slightly built Ethiopian would not be travelling to Kampala for the World Cross Country Championships.

"It would have been great to run alongside my stars," explains Chesang who finished fourth at the national cross country two months ago.

She is seriously eyeing a medal at the World Cross Country this weekend.

"We have trained well and are fit. We should be able to do well moreso now that we also have home support."

 Like any athlete, her dream is to shine on the big stage.

"A medal at either the Olympics or world championships is what I pray for daily," she says.

She also looks forward to the day she will own her own car and also have enough money to engaged business. She was first spotted at a national schools championship in Sironko.

"You could tell right from that she had potential," recounts Uganda Athletics Federation publicist Namayo Mawerere.

She made her international cross country debut as a junior in 2007. She was however among the 20 runners who couldn't finish because of the intense heat in the Kenyan coastal town of Mombasa.

The same year she also featured in the World Youth Championship in the Czech Republic and finished sixth in the 3000m.

She finally made it to the podium that year with a third place finish at the Africa Youth Championships. The following year she represented Uganda at the World Junior Championship in Poland, finishing sixth. She plans to eventually switch to the marathon.

"As I get older I will concentrate on the road."

She will at this weekend's race be part of Uganda's senior women's race that also has Mercyline Chelangat, Stella Chesang, Doreen Chesang, Rachael Chebet, Doreen Chemutai and Emily Chebet.

CHESANG FACTFILE

Born: October 16, 1990

Personal bests

1500m: 4:39.06

3000m: 9:41.24

Honours

Silver: 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games

Bronze: Africa Youth Championship

4th: National Cross Country Championship