When
Thomas Ayeko returned home from Algeria with an individual bronze from the Africa Cross-country Championships last weekend, his counterparts were triggered.
However, the expectation of weight grew bigger for his colleagues who will represent Uganda at the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships in Valencia, Spain on Saturday.
Moses Kurong, Fred Musobo, Felix Chemonges, Alex Mutai and Moses Kibet will compete in the men’s 21km race where defending champion Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor is favourite.
Uganda has never won an individual medal in this competition yet Kenya has scooped honours here.
However, in 2004, Uganda took a team bronze medal through Wilson Busienei, Martin Toroitich and Joseph Nsubuga.
Kamworor is still the man to beat even if he is not the fastest in the field. He is bidding to win a third straight title, like what Eritrean Zersenay Tadese did from 2006-2009.
Emilly Chebet is Uganda’s biggest pick in the women’s 21km where Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei is tipped to win.
Jepkosgei’s last visit to Valencia in October last year saw her improve her own world record set in Prague back in April by one second when she crossed the line at the 2017 Medio Maraton Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP in 1:04:51.
IAAF WORLD HALF - MARATHON
Prize Money
INDIVIDUAL:
1st - $30,000
2nd - $15,000
3rd - $10,000
4th - $7000
5th - $5000
6th - $3000
TEAMS
1st - $15,000
2nd - $12,000
3rd - $9000
4th - $7500
5th - $6000
6th - $3000
TEAM UGANDA
WOMEN: Doreen Chesang, Linet Chebet, Emilly Chebet and Adha Munguleya
MEN: Moses Kurong, Fred Musobo, Felix Chemonges, Alex Mutai and Moses Kibet
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