The Uganda Athletics third National Track and Field Trials delivered high-quality competition, with 11 spots secured for the World Athletics Under-20 Championships.
This marked the total number of Ugandan athletes who have met the Under-20 World Athletics qualification standards, now rising to 25 from 14 who qualified in the last two National Trials held in March alone.
The number of qualified athletes is, however, likely to hit a record high by the 2026 National Track and Field Championships season climax in June.
The U20 World Championships are slated to take place on August 4-9, 2026, at Hayward Field, Eugene, USA.
Uganda Athletics President, Dominic Otucet, was enthusiastic about the development.
The number of good athletes in the U20 category is very big and very good for the future of athletics in the country. That shows the great potential Uganda has and confirms what we saw last year that the biggest number of medals won came from the U20 athletes. That shows that Uganda is safe to continue to excel internationally in athletics. These are the same athletes who will graduate to the senior ranks soon. We aren’t worried about continuity. We are more confident that the foundation that we have laid is a firm foundation giving us a big number of excellent young athletes ready to replace the big names that we have now.
Dominic Otucet, president Uganda Athletics
Qualifiers (1st and 2nd Trials held on 14/03/26 & 28/03/26)
Women:
800m
- Zumurah Chebet – 2:08.16
1500m
- Felister Chekwemoi – 4:15.39
- Baskerine Cherotwo – 4:15.98
- Brenda Chekwemoi – 4:21.39
5000m
- Cherop Charity – 15:17.35
- Bentalin Yeko – 16:02.41
Men:
800m
- MurungiShafeak 1:48.37
5000m
- Thomas Cheptoyek – 13:39.28
- Dan Kipyeko – 13:51.63
- Joshua Ayeko – 13:53.01
- Michael Kibet – 13:53.50
- David Kipyeko – 13:57.88
- Ivan Kwemboi – 13:58.48
- Solomon Chemayek – 14:02.00
Qualifiers (3rd trials held on 11th April 2026)
Women
3000m:
- Bentalin Yeko – 8: 57.07
- Felister Chekwemoi – 9:07.77
- Peace Chebet – 9:14.57
- Keren Chelimo – 9:18.86
- Rachael Chelimo – 9:23.41
- Isella Chebet – 9:24.19
Men
3000m:
- Dan Kipyeko – 7:54.95
- Michael Kibet – 8:00.07
- Ivan Kwemboi – 8:01.93
- Levi Cherotich – 8:02.03
- Solomon Chemayek – 8:02.94
