Ugandans in Action on Thursday
•Men’s 5000m Heats – Joshua Cheptegei (doubtful) & Oscar Chelimo, 8pm
•Men’s 200m semifinals – Tarsis Orogot, 9:20pm
There are doubts that Joshua Cheptegei may not compete at the 5000m as the Heats get underway on Thursday at the ongoing 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Cheptegei who won Gold recently in the 10,000m, made it clear in the interview then that the 10,000m event was his top priority.
He added that he will be monitoring his body and focus on recovery before making a final decision.
The decision to do a double by Cheptegei came with a doubt before the championships even began given a couple of injuries in recent past that resulted into deteriorating of his form.
With the iconic runner confirming his next switch away from track, Cheptegei might prefer resting his body ahead of his Marathon debut later this year and Paris 2024 Olympics.
Chepetegei is still listed in Heat Two on Thursday by press time, and if it all come to pass, he will go head to head with overwhelming favorite Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
First eight of each heat will qualify to the Final.
Oscar Chelimo will be in Heat Two, and will be hoping for a place in the final having won Bronze last year in Oregon, the same race where Cheptegei struggled before settling for ninth.
On Wednesday, Uganda’s medal hopeful Peruth Chemutai qualified through to Women’s 3000m SC final due Sunday.
She finished third in her heat in a time of 9:20.03 and will be going for Gold, a medal he won at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Sarah Chelangat and Prisca Chesang both failed to reach the Women’s 5000m final.
Chelangat ran 15:14.89 to finish 13th in Heat one while Chesang was 16th in a time of 15:37.02 in Heat Two.
Halima Nakaayi (800m) and Tarsis Orogot (200m) advanced to the semis of their respective distances.
