Uganda’s athletics team delivered an impressive performance at the 4th African Youth Games in Bengo, Angola, winning a silver and a bronze medal and underlining the country’s growing strength on the track.
Competing at the Complexo Desportivo Paralympico do Bengo, the Uganda athletics team celebrated a podium finish in the girls’ U17 3000m through Keren Chelimo, who claimed the bronze medal after clocking 9:41.81. Chelimo finished third in a closely fought race, behind Kenya’s Lorna Cherono, who took silver in 9:40.80.
The highlight for the Uganda athletics contingent came in the girls’ 1500m, where Baskaline Cherotwo powered to a silver medal in 4:28.26. The result marked Uganda’s first-ever silver medal in the event at the African Youth Games, with Cherotwo finishing just behind Ethiopia’s gold medallist Hana Negesa, who won in 4:26.14.
Other members of the Uganda athletics team also posted competitive performances. Risper Chekwemboi finished fifth in the U17 girls’ 800m with a time of 2:14.3, while Loput Kizito placed sixth in the boys’ U17 1500m after crossing the line in 4:10.59.
Speaking after the races, Uganda athletics team coach Immaculate Chemutai praised the young runners for their efforts despite limited preparation time. “According to me the performance was good. I’m proud of the athletes and this performance indicates that our athletes are talented,” Chemutai said. “Despite the busy school schedule, they performed well and this means that if we prepare them better next time, they will get us gold in the races to come.”
