Joshua Cheptegei plus a trio of other Ugandan runners made an unexpected return back home after the former successfully broke the 5000m world record at Monaco Diamond League in France on August 14.
Cheptegei, his training partner Stephen Kissa, world 800m champion Halimah Nakaayi and Winnie Nanyondo returned two days later via the Uganda - Kenya border.
With sports still suspended in the country and Namboole Stadium which has the tartan track shut out, the quartet was expected to stay in Europe for a while.
But they were surprised by their manager Jurrie van der Velden that they were returning home after Monaco as some paperwork which allows movement in the European Union was still pending.
Nakaayi and Nanyondo were actually looking forward to the Stockholm Diamond League Meeting in Sweden last weekend.
“Manager Jurrie told us that we have to wait but we would have loved to be in Stockholm and try to keep getting better ahead of the Tokyo Olympics,” Nakaayi said.
In Monaco, Nakaayi set a new national record over 1000m - now standing at two minutes and 32.12 seconds.
It means they can only wait for the next competitive Diamond League event which comes next month in Rome, Italy on September 17.
Prior, there will be two events in Lausanne, Switzerland and Brussels, Belgium but they have been considered as Exhibition events.
For now, the quartet will complete a mandatory two-week self-quarantine at Cheptegei's home in Kapchorwa, eastern Uganda on Sunday.
2020 DIAMOND LEAGUE CALENDAR
June 11: Oslo, Norway (Impossible Games - Exhibition event)
July 9: Zurich, Switzerland (Inspiration Games - Exhibition event)
August 14: Monaco, France
August 23: Stockholm, Sweden
September 2: Lausanne, Switzerland (Exhibition street event)
September 4: Brussels, Belgium (Exhibition event)
September 17: Rome/Naples, Italy
September 25: Doha, Qatar
October 17: City TBC, China
MONACO DIAMOND LEAGUE
MEN’S 5000M RESULT
1 Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 12:35.36 WR*
2 Nicholas Kipkorir (KEN) 12:51.78
3 Jacob Krop (KEN) 13:11.32
DNF Stephen Kissa (UGA)
WOMEN’S 1000M
1 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 2:29.15
2 Laura Muir (GBR) 2:30.82
3 Ciara Mageean (IRL) 2:31.06
5 Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) 2:32.12
8 Winnie Nanyondo (UGA) 2:36.54
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This writer is a global broadcaster and as well scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and sports presenter with Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune