Oscar Chelimo a long-distance runner has done the Pearl of Africa proud at the just concluded World Athletics Championship in Oregon, USA. This is after bagging a bronze medal in the 5000m categories.
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the gold medal with a time of 13:09:24. Kenyan, Jacob Krop then came second with a time of 13:09:98 winning silver before Chelimo came in third with a time of 13:10:20 for a bronze medal.
This was Chelimo’s best time ever in the 5000m and he’s been tipped to become one of the best in the field. Meanwhile another Ugandan who had eyes on him, Joshua Cheptegei failed to impress in the same category.
Cheptegei who had previously won gold fell short as he came in 9th with a time of 13:13:12. The Olympic gold medallist however had earlier won gold in the 10,000m.
Cheptegei despite the setback still holds the world records for both the 5000m and 10,000m. Ugandans have already taken to their social media pages to congratulate the runners.
“Hard luck @joshuacheptege1 and congratulations Oscar Chelimo for bringing us Bronze. Uganda is proud of you all. Looking forward to Birmingham where @Makerere has contributed a number of athletes on Team Uganda,” Makerere University vice chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe tweeted.
“Hearty congratulations Oscar Chelimo. That was a well-earned medal. Congratulations too to you @joshuacheptege1. Only a champion like you could have run both 10k and 5k. Team Uganda did us really proud. #WorldAthleticsChamps,” ANT president Mugisha Muntu also congratulated the duo.
Chelimo a 20-year-old is a younger brother to another great Ugandan runner, Jacob Kiplimo. Uganda bagged 16th position in the competitions after winning 3 medals, 1 gold, another silver plus a bronze. Energies will now be shifted to the upcoming Commonwealth games that are set to begin this week
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