Charity Cherop has added another medal to Uganda’s tally, claiming bronze in the women’s 3000m at the World U20 Athletics Championships
Cherop added the bronze to the gold she won in the 5000m on the opening day of the championship.
Cherop clocked 8:45.59 to finish third, behind Ethiopia’s Yordanos Tsigab (8:43.65), who claimed gold, and compatriot Shito Gumi (8:45.06), who took silver.
Cherop adopted a similar approach to the one she used in the 5000m, staying with the leading group of nine runners who broke away shortly after the first lap.
With 1,000m to go, she made a decisive move that reduced the group to four, before it became three by the time they reached the bell.
She tried to shake off the two Ethiopians, but they remained patient, waiting until the final corner when Cherop had little left in the tank.
Down the home straight, Tsigab charged past her. Cherop tried to hold on for silver, but she looked too exhausted to withstand another charge from Gumi, who overtook her with just 10m remaining as Cherop settled for bronze.
With the championships set to conclude this evening, Cherop remains Uganda’s only medalist at the event from the 11-athlete team that represented the country.
Jeremiah Kwemboi is Uganda’s last hope for another medal, as he takes his place in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase final.
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