The 2022 FISU World University Championship Cross Country will took place on Saturday 12th Match on the campus of the University of Aveiro, in Portugal. Students athletes from 20 different countries ran in an area entirely restored for the occasion.

Team Uganda fielded 5 athletes in the 2022 FISU World University Championship Cross Country that was concluded in Aveiro, Portugal yesterday. Team included 4 boys ( Yeko Dismas from Ndejje University, Wangwe Brian , Cheptegei Sam, Otim Emmanuel from Makerere University ) and one girl ( Aciru Knight from Ndejje University ). These were joined by their Coach Faustin Kiwa and Team Mànager Brian Nsubuga to make the delegation for the Championship . Aciru Knight promised to run less than 35 minutes in Portugal and well she beat the record with a time of 31:52 to supersede her 35.51 time in the National Cross Country early last month.

In the men’s race , Yeko Dismas from Ndejje University won Gold posting a time of 28:00 . Wangwe Brian came 3rd taking home Bronze with time of 28:12 . The other athletes included Otim Emmanuel who came 20th with a time of 29:26 . Cheptegei Sam came 38th posting a time of 30:56.

According to Otim Emmanuel “I had a nice experience but it is about being prepared for all circumstances… And team work because you may be good but in case one person decides to give up of the four, you be disqualified for group medal so what is important is to encourage each other to complete and for the case of preparedness you have to understand how the weather of a given place is because like Europe it was too cold and this was favouring them. Since it was world wide , Everything was amazing, the services were rendered perfectly.

It was a good experience for me competing in the cold weather which was my first time in my career. Secondly winning the bronze medal at a global competition which is a great milestone towards my career as an athlete . The competition has encouraged me to prepare more for summer universide games in Chengdu where I hope to run 10000m and 5000m said Wangwe Brian

Ms Nomsa Mahlangu president of the Federation of African University Sports, congratulated the team, “Congratulations team Uganda Africa is Proud of each one of the Athletes that went to represent the continent. Thank you for all your efforts. Africa University Sport on the Rise”.

The team will mow focus its attention to participating at the African University Games in Nairobi Kenya from the 6-10 of June 2022.

Chidiebere Ezeani