Uganda’s long-distance star Joshua Cheptegei is set to lead the country’s team at the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he will compete in the men’s half marathon.
Cheptegei is scheduled to race on September 20 as part of his preparations for the marathon. The 28-year-old has been training in Kapchorwa under coach Addy Ruiter as he builds the fitness and endurance required for the 21.0975km race.
The Copenhagen championships will bring together some of the world’s leading road runners on September 19 and 20, with world titles to be contested in the one-mile, 5km and half-marathon races.
The one-mile and 5km races will be held on September 19, while the elite half marathon is scheduled for the following day. The half marathon is expected to be one of the highlights of the championships, with athletes tackling a fast, specially designed course through Copenhagen.
For Cheptegei, the race comes at an important stage in his transition to longer road races. Having established himself as one of the world’s leading track and cross-country runners, the Ugandan has increasingly turned his attention to the marathon.
Uganda yet to name final team
Uganda Athletics is yet to officially name the 12 athletes and officials who will represent the country at the championships. The federation held its selection trials in Tororo on August 15, with athletes competing for places in the one-mile, 5km and half-marathon events.
Paul Okello, the organising secretary, said the final team will be announced after the technical team completes its deliberations.
“We shall unleash the squad as soon as we are done with the technical meeting, now that we’ve already carried out a selection trial,” Okello said.
The trials gave the federation an opportunity to assess athletes across the three championship distances before selecting the final contingent.
Isa Kosgei, a coach at Uganda Prisons Athletics Club, said the quality of competition at the Tororo trials gave him confidence that Uganda will field a competitive team.
“Uganda has strong athletes, and with the competition we have seen during the trial, we believe the team will be strong,” Kosgei said.
World Athletics expects about 65,000 runners to participate in the championship and mass-participation races, making the event one of the biggest road-running gatherings of the year.
Uganda will hope Cheptegei’s experience at the highest level of international athletics can inspire the rest of the team as the country targets strong performances in Copenhagen.