When Uganda hosted the World Cross-country Championships in March last year, the dream was to have more perceptions changed about athletics in the country.
But there was a more profound target, to have the East African become a force in the discipline of the sport.
Uganda bagged its first individual gold in World Cross-country when
Jacob Kiplimo won the junior men's 8km race on March 26, 2017 in the presence of President Yoweri Museveni at Kololo.
Joshua Cheptegei could have won the senior men's 10km title but withered in bizarre fashion, falling from first to 30th as Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor retained his title.
When the Africa Cross-country Championships roll off in Algeria on Saturday, it will only be a success litmus test for Uganda.
Coach Benjamin Njia has spent a while with the team in camp at the Teryet High Altitude Centre in Kapchorwa and when the runners assemble in Chlef, the results will be key.
“The team is well-facilitated and high spirits. We have registered no injuries and ready to take on Africa. We hope for the better performance than the 2016 edition.” Njia said.
At the previous edition held in 2016, Phillip Kipyeko scooped silver in the senior men's race in Cameroon.
Even if he did not win the national title like in 2016, Kipyeko will carry the bigger burden of expectation on his spikes in North Africa.
“We are prepared to take on anybody in Algeria. I cannot predict but let us wait or the results. We ask Ugandans to pray for us,” he said.
Kipyeko came second at the National X-Country Championships last month behind winner Thomas Ayeko.
In the senior women's 10km race, improved Mercyline Chelangat will be one to watch having lifted the title at the Durban 10K Run in South Africa.
Sarah Chelangat and 2015 Commonwealth Youth double silver medalist Peruth Chemutai are the faces to watch.
Meanwhile, cross-country powerhouses Kenya and Ethiopia will have new faces dominate their teams in Chlef after the top opted to focus on the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships due in Valencia, Spain next weekend.
Alfred Barkach and Stacy Ndiwa lead Kenya’s senior teams while Enyew
Mekonnen and Enatnesh Almirew will lead Ethiopia.