Jacob Kiplimo Confident Uganda Can Overcome Tough Competition at 2026 World Cross Country Championships

Uganda's national cross-country team, spearheaded by the half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo, departed from Kampala on Monday night, bound for the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, USA, which kicks off on January 10.

Before leaving, Jacob Kiplimo, the defending senior men's champion, expressed confidence in the team's readiness to compete for the top prizes.

Jacob Kiplimo will be looking to defend his title, targeting a rare hat-trick, and despite the strong opposition awaiting him, the Ugandan believes he has all it takes.

Jacob Kiplimo won his first senior title at the 2023 edition in Bathurst, Australia, before defending his title in 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia.

"We have trained really well in the past two months, and we are prepared to perform well and win the title," Kiplimo stated during the flagging off ceremony. "I know it will also be tough for me to go out and defend my title in the men's race, but I am ready."

An Olympic medallist, Jacob Kiplimo is the most seasoned athlete on the 26-member squad. He first claimed the senior men's world cross country title in Australia in 2023 and successfully defended it in Serbia last year.

Dominic Otuchet, President of Uganda Athletics, echoed the star runner's optimism about the team's medal prospects, despite acknowledging the stiff competition ahead.

"We know that other teams like Kenya and Ethiopia will be tough because they also have good teams, but we are confident," Otuchet remarked.

At the previous championships, Uganda secured a second-place finish in the men's team event, just behind rivals Kenya, with Ethiopia and Spain following in third and fourth place, respectively.

The 46th edition of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships marks the event's return to the United States for the first time in over three decades.