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Budding Ugandan athletes had a taste of the fruits of hardwork as they posted impressive performance at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Innsbruck-Stubai, June 10 taking victories in the mountain classic events.
Uganda won gold at the men’s event thanks to Leonard Chemutai's 56:14 finish, while compatriot Eliud Kiprop finished in fourth position outside the medal bracket.
Chemutai was making his debut as a senior athlete at the event having previously featured in the junior ranks.
In the junior category Uganda posted a stunning 1-2 podium finish with James Kirwa posting 27:3 while Hosea Chemutai 27:43 for gold and silver respectively.
According to iRun, the challenging mountain race came with a €16,500(about Shs66m) prize purse that gave €4,000 (about Shs16m) to the winner with money stretching five-deep.
This means Chemutai walked away Shs16m richer while Kiprop and the junior athletes also enjoyed substantial cash prizes for their performances.
Speaking to World Athletics, Chemutai stated that he was confident of victory.
“I was confident that I had to win this medal,” said Chemutai, who won the U20 mountain classic race at last year’s championships in Thailand.
“The last time, the Kenyan took the (senior) medal, and today I said, ‘No, Uganda has a chance to get this.’ My tactic was to win."
"I was going very well during the last loop, I felt pain in my leg, but I said, ‘I have to move.’ God gave me the strength, and I pushed it until the finish," Chemutai added.
He is hopeful that the event will become popular among athletes: “The mountains are also in Uganda but not big like these ones."
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