For almost a decade, Uganda consistently looked to Joshua Cheptegei for medals at major international championships every year.
However, upon choosing to become a full marathoner in late 2024, that changed. His absence has been felt, more so after he sat out competing at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships in Japan last September.
At the time, he skipped the 42km race in Tokyo and chose to compete at the Amsterdam Marathon in the Netherlands the following month.
Now, a global championship which seems to augur with his schedule is imminent. And inevitably, Uganda Athletics (UAt) last week entered Cheptegei among the 16 names set to represent the country at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark next weekend.
On September 20, Cheptegei will run the men’s 21km event in the company of familiar names Mande Bushendich, Martin Kiprotich and Feb Chelogoi. ‘Looking forward to representing Uganda on the world stage again,’ Cheptegei said in a social media post.
He last wore a Ugandan bib when he powered to the men’s 10000 metres Olympic title inside the Stade de France during the Paris 2024 Games in France on August 2, 2024.
Two years later, he returns to a country which sparked a new gear in his career. He exorcised demons with a master class performance to win the 2019 World Athletics Cross-country title in Aarhus, which is three hours away from Copenhagen by car.
‘Denmark holds a special place in my heart since my World XC title at Aarhus 2019. Grateful for the opportunity and excited. Let’s go!’ added the man who finished 12th at the London Marathon in April.
In Denmark, Cheptegei leads a team which will compete over the 21km, 5km and the mile, a new structure inaugurated at the 2023 edition in Riga, Latvia.
Before that year, the championships were initially called the World Athletics Half-Marathon Championships, comprising only the women’s and men’s 21km races.
Cheptegei featured at the 2020 edition where he came fourth as compatriot Jacob Kiplimo won the half-marathon world title in championship record time of 58 minutes and 49 seconds in Gdynia, Poland.
In the women’s 21km in Copenhagen, UAt has entered Esther Chekwemoi, Annet Chemengich, Rebecca Chelangat and Esther Chebet, who came fourth in the women’s 5000 metres and 10000 metres final at the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Then Charity Cherop, fresh from winning the 5000 metres gold and a 3000 metres bronze medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon, USA will run the 5km event in the company of Martha Chemusto.
Felister Chekwemoi, who also competed in Oregon, will run the mile with Patience Cherop and so will Silas Chemutai and Hosea Kiprop in the same event for the men.
Cheptegei’s understudy Kenneth Kiprop will line-up for the men’s 5km with Alex Kiplangat.
WORLD ATHLETICS ROAD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS
TEAM UGANDA TO COPENHAGEN
Women’s 21km: Esther Chebet, Esther Chekwemoi Yeko, Annet Chemengich Chelangat and Rebecca Chelangat
Men’s 21km: Joshua Cheptegei, Mande Bushendich, Martin Kiprotich and Feb Chelogoi
Women’s 5km: Charity Cherop and Martha Chemusto
Men’s 5km: Alex Kiplangat and Kenneth Kiprop
Women’s 1 Mile: Felister Chekwemoi and Patience Cherop
Men’s 1 Mile: Silas Chemutai and Hosea Kiprop
CHEPTEGEI IN 2026
Jul 12: Run Your City 10K (1st, 27:19)
Apr 26: London Marathon (12th, 2:06:39)
Feb 8: Burj 2 Burj 21K (1st, 59:26)
CHEPTEGEI IN 2025
Dec 21: Kolkata 25K (1st, 1:11:49)
Oct 19: Amsterdam Marathon (5th, 2:04:52)
Apr 27: Bengaluru 10K (1st, 27:53)
Mar 2: Tokyo Marathon (9th, 2:05:59)
CHEPTEGEI IN 2024
Oct 20: Delhi Half Marathon (1st, 59:46)
Sept 22: Dam tot Damloop (2nd, 45:18)
Aug 2: Paris Olympics 10000m Final (1st, 26:43.14)
May 30: Bislett Games 5000m (9th, 12:51.94)
May 17: LA Grand Prix 5000m (3rd, 12:52.38)
Mar 30: World X-Country (6th, 28:24)
Mar 16: Laredo 10K (2nd, 25:53)
CHEPTEGEI IN 2023
Dec 3: Valencia Marathon (37th, 2:08:59)