Kampala University student Winnie Nanyondo led Uganda to an individual podium sweep and team dominance at the just ended 19th World University Cross Country championships at the Entebbe Golf Course on Saturday.
The Kampala University Industrial Art and Design student, who won the [link id=”399″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Africa University Cross Country Championship”] on the same course last December, predicted she would get gold in the women’s 6km race and she did in grand style.
After running on teammate Dorcus Ajok’s shoulders for the opening two laps, [link id=”410″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Winnie Nanyondo”] pounced to comfortably stride home in 20:33.77.
Ajok secured the silver in 21:01.85 with compatriot Prim Twikirize digging deep in the last few metres to win the bronze medal in 21:06.14, thus securing the women’s team title for Uganda ahead of Japan and Canada.
‘I decided to control the pace today and was sure of winning. I never panicked even when the Kenyan tried to disorganize me.’ [Joshua Cheptegei]
In the men’s race, home favourite Joshua Cheptegei comfortably took the men’s 10km race, quickly [link id=”7722″ text=”burying the ghost of his seventh place”] at the Africa Cross-country Championships junior race in Kampala last weekend.
The Makerere University student crossed the finishing line in 31:06.71 minutes to land Uganda its second gold ahead of Kenyans Daniel Muindi (31:12.79) and Mark Lokwanamoi (32:33.26).
“At Kololo, my teammates made a big mistake of starting with a very high pace which they couldn’t sustain,” said Cheptegei after the race. “I decided to control the pace today and was sure of winning. I never panicked even when the Kenyan tried to disorganize me.”
Kenya took the men’s team gold ahead of Uganda with 9 points and Uganda became only the second African country to host the World University Cross Country championships after Algeria in 2006.
Selected Results
Men 10km
- Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 31:06.71
- Daniel Muindi (KEN) 31:12.79
- Mark Lokwanamoi (KEN) 32:33.26
Women 6km
- Winnie Nanyondo (UGA) 20:33.77
- Dorcus Ajok (UGA) 21:01.85
- Prim Twikirize (UGA) 21:06.14
- Ayumi Uehara (JPN) 21:16.97
- Fayuka Kimuna (JPN) 21:22.33
- Natsumi Ozawa (JPN) 21:30.63
- Julie-Anne Staehli (CAN) 21:31.34
- Sheila Kandie (KEN) 21:39.15
- Thembi Lucia Baloyi (RSA) 21:43.40
- Annet Chebet (UGA) 21:43.50
Team Standings
Men
- Kenya 9pts
- Uganda 18pts
- Japan 31pts
Women
- Uganda 6pts
- Japan 15pts
- Canada 38pts
- South Africa 48pts
- Italy 51pts
Download Full Results
19th World University Cross Country Championship – Individual Men Results
19th World University Cross Country Championship – Individual Women Results
19th World University Cross Country Championship – Team Women Results
19th World University Cross Country Championship – Team Men Results
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