Steeplechase: Leonard Chemutai (OLY) vows for best performance amid windy conditions in Riyadh at 6th Islamic Solidarity Games

2025 Islamic Solidarity Games (Athletics):

Selected events:

• Men’s 1500M (Heats) – 11:20 AM
• Men’s 3000m Steeplechase (Finals) – 9:30 PM

• Women’s Javelin Throw (Finals) – 9:45 PM

• Women’s 10,000m (Finals) – 9:50 PM

Monday, 17th November 2025

*At Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium (Malaz Track & Field), Riyadh

On the eve of the athletics competition at the on-going 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, team Uganda once against trained at the Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University students’ sports complex in Riyadh city.

Middle and long distance runners as well as the Javelin thrower all involved in the training session amid hot weather and windy conditions.

On the evening of Monday, 17th November 2025, Uganda will commence the bold journey at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahad stadium (Malaz Track and Field) to add to her already 6 medal tally.

First in business will be Tom Dradiga in the men’s 1500m race at 11:20 AM during the heats.

The 22-year-old Leonard Chemutai (OLY) in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase finals at 9:30 PM.

Chemutai (OLY) is positive ahead of the race. “I am more than ready to compete in the race on Monday night” he stated after the training session.

“Here (Riyadh), it is very hot during the day but very cold at night. There have been strong winds in the day and not sure how it will be during the race time. Nevertheless, I am ready” added Chemutai (OLY) whose personal best is 8:17:14 (Szekesfehervar, 2023).

At 9:45 PM, the Javelin Throw competition (finals) will take place in which Uganda will field Josephine Joyce Lalam shall compete.

Then at 9:50 PM will be the women’s 10,000m (finals). The Chelangat duo of Rebecca and Annet will be Uganda’s representatives in this race.

Uganda’s 17-man team checked into the games village on Friday morning and has since conducted a couple of training sessions in the morning, mid-morning and late evening times.

Team composition:

This is the largest number of athletes to the competition which has 10 women and 7 men going for the medal hunt.

The ten women on the team include Shida Leni, Mauren Akiiki Banura, Malvin Akwenyi, Halima Nakaayi, Knight Aciru, Charity Cherop, Risper Cherop, Rebecca Chelangat, Annet Chelangat Chemengich and Joyce Josephine Lalam (Javelin).

The men on the team include the likes of Haron Adoli, Kenneth Omuka, Godfrey Chanwengo, Tom Dradriga, Leonard Chemutai, Samuel Simba Cherop and Abel Chebet.

Officials:

This team is under four officials Muhammed Abdallah, Shaban Aluwa, Ali Ngaimoko and Aber Lucy Okumu.

Uganda Athletics team comes into the games seeking for their first Gold medal and to improve on the 4 medals they have so far.

In the inaugural edition that took place in Mecca and Medina in 2005,

Boniface Kiprop earned Uganda a bronze medal in the 10,000m (28:46.27).

In the 4^th edition that was hosted by Baku in Azerbaijan, Halima Nakaayi won a silver medal in the 800m (2:01.60).

During the 5^th Edition hosted by Konya in Turkey, Abel Chebet earned Uganda two medals, a silver in 10,000m (28:31.39) and a Bronze in 5000m (13:54.93).

Chebet comes to Riyadh with intent to improve on his tally of medals as the most successful athlete to the Islamic Solidarity Games.

Uganda Athletics Team composition:

Athletes:

Women:

1. Shida Leni                                        400m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
2. Banura Mauren Akiiki                     400m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
3. Akwenyi Malvin                              400m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
4. Halima Nakaayi                                800m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
5. Aciru Knight                                    1500m
6. Cherop Charity                                 5000m
7. Cherop Risper                                  5000m
8. Chelangat Rebecca                           10,000m
9. Chelangat Annet Chemengich          10,000m
10. Lalam Josephine Joyce                   Javelin

Men

1. Adoli Haron                                      400m and 4 x400m Mixed Relay
2. Omuka Kenneth                                400m and 4 x400m Mixed Relay
3. Chanwengo Godfrey                        400m and 4 x400m Mixed Relay
4. Dradriga Tom                                   800m
5. Chemutai Leonard                            Steeple Chase
6. Cherop Samuel Simba                      5000m
7. Chebet Abel                                      10,000m

Officials

1. Abdallah Muhammed
2. Aluwa Shaban
3. Ali Ngaimoko
4. Aber Lucy Okumu