Uganda wins bronze at World U-20 athletics

At the current U-20 World Athletics Championships at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, Prisca Chesang earned bronze in the 5000m.

Chesang, 18, completed in 16:21.78 minutes, trailing Ethiopians Mizan Alem and Meknat Wudu, who took first and second place, respectively. Mizan Alem took first place in 16:05:61, followed by her compatriot Wudu in 16:13.16.

There was some uncertainty, however, as Chesang and Wudu of Ethiopia were penalized for temporarily going off the course. Zenah Chepoo of Kenya was given second place after finishing fourth in 16:29.44, and Carla Dominguez of Spain was awarded third place after finishing fifth in 16:45.79.

Ugandan officials, however, challenged the judgment, and Chesang was restored and awarded the bronze medal after almost an hour. Uganda has won its first medal in the games. Wudu of Ethiopia, who had also lost to the same judgment, was awarded a silver medal.

Scarlett Chebet, Chesang’s compatriot, finished ninth in the 5000m with a time of 17:36.26 minutes.

Chesang, who had just returned from the Olympics, was making a comeback after finishing fourth in the 3000m finals.

Toroitich Ndiwa and Leonard Chemutai, two more Ugandan long-distance runners, finished second and third, respectively, in the 3000m steeplechase finals. At Kasarani Stadium, the duo came in sixth and seventh place, respectively.

Toroitich Ndiwa finished sixth, crossing the line in 8 minutes and 58.09 seconds, while his compatriot Leonard Chemutai settled for seventh place in 9:03.14 minutes, after looking quick in the early laps of the race.

Although Chemutai got off to a fast start, leading the first four circuits, he dropped behind Kenya’s Amos Serem, who won the race in 8:20.72 minutes, Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele took silver, and Kenya’s Simon Kiprop took bronze.