Eight days ago, Uganda were likened to 2010 Fifa World Cup hosts South Africa after a poor show in their own backyard at the third Africa Cross-country Championships at Kololo Airstrip.
Without any individual honour but only two (silver and bronze) team medals, the image of the sport was tainted further as female athletes put one of their coaches on spot for alleged sexual harassment while in camp.
At that state, Uganda’s golden sport needed a breather. On Saturday, hosts Uganda bagged gold in the men and women’s races at the 19th World University Cross-Country event at Entebbe Golf Course.
“To me, I think this team has brought a feeling of relief to Uganda’s athletics after the recent poor show at Kololo,” Team Uganda coach Benjamin Longiross said.
His runners showed no signs of pressure to deliver as Kampala University’s Winnie Nanyondo strode home in best time of 20 minutes and 33.77 seconds for Uganda’s first ever gold in the women’s 8km race.
Then, Dorcus Ajok (21:01.85) and Prim Twkirize (21:06.14) followed Nanyondo respectively as Uganda not only took team gold but that feat became the second women’s podium sweep by a country since Soviet Union’s at the 1982 edition in West Germany.
Later, Makerere University student Joshua Cheptegei got a consolation for his seventh-place finish at the junior event in Kololo, winning the men’s event in 31:06.71.
“After Kololo, I told him (Cheptegei) that this Entebbe event would mark the beginning of his success if he ironed out his mistakes and kept calm and composed. I am glad he made it.” Longiross said.
Cheptegei’s victory makes him the third winner in history of the event in front of his home crowd after Great Briton David James and German Frank Zimmerman’s respective heroics in 1980 and 1982.
His well-controlled run left Machakos University’s Daniel Muindi (31:12.79) in second while Mark Lokwanamoi of Mount. Kenya University (32:33.26) took bronze.
Despite having mediocre preparations, Kenya’s coach Fatwell Kimayo was left impressed. “We didn’t do well in the women’s race but the men brought us some pride,” he said.
“Recently, there were strikes at universities from March 12-17, athletes trained individually and it affected our build-up. The course was so nice, better than many back home.”
WORLD UNIVERSITY CROSS-COUNTRY RESULTS
MEN
1. Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 31:06.71
2. Daniel Muindi (KEN) 31:12.79
3. Mark Lokwanamoi (KEN) 32:33.26
8. Martin Chemtengin (UGA) 33:00.09
9. Julius Ochieng (UGA) 33:12.93
11. Sam Cherop (UGA) 33:18.54
17. Edward Mukasa (UGA) 33:48.93
25. Kennedy Nuwahereza (UGA) 34:33.87
WOMEN
1. Winnie Nanyondo (UGA) 20:33.77
2. Dorcus Ajok (UGA) 21:01.85
3. Prim Twikirize (UGA) 21:06.14
10. Annet Chebet (UGA) 21:43.50
13. Lillian Anzazi (UGA) 22:02.88
30. Margaret Lubagu (UGA) 24:28.84
TEAM RESULTS
MEN
Kenya – 9 points
Uganda – 18
Japan – 31
WOMEN
Uganda – 6
Japan – 15
Canada – 38