Uganda’s national athletics team, spearheaded by star distance runner Jacob Kiplimo, left the country on Monday night ahead of the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, set to begin on January 10 in Tallahassee, United States.
Speaking before departure, Kiplimo, the reigning world cross country senior men’s champion, said the team is fully prepared and determined to compete for top honors.
“We have had very good training over the last two months, and we are ready to perform strongly and fight for the title. Defending my crown in the men’s race will not be easy, but I am prepared for the challenge,” Kiplimo said.
The Olympic medalist first claimed the senior men’s world cross country title in 2023 in Australia and went on to successfully defend it in 2024 in Serbia, making him the most experienced athlete in Uganda’s 26-member contingent.
Uganda Athletics president Dominic Otuchet also voiced confidence in the team’s readiness and medal chances, acknowledging the strength of rival nations.
“We are aware that teams like Kenya and Ethiopia are very strong, but we are confident in our preparations,” Otuchet said.
At the previous championships, Uganda finished second in the men’s team category behind Kenya, while Ethiopia and Spain placed third and fourth respectively.
The 46th edition of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships marks the event’s return to the United States for the first time in over three decades.
