Jacob Kiplimo, Uganda’s renowned long-distance runner, has clinched the esteemed USPA (Uganda Sports Press Association) Sports Personality of the Month accolade for March. The announcement was made during the USPA Annual General Meeting, held at the Cooper Chimney Restaurant, Lugogo, on Saturday.
Kiplimo secured this honor following his remarkable triumph at the Senior Men’s World Cross Country Championships (10km) in Belgrade, Serbia, where he defended his title in a fiercely competitive race. Clocking in at 28:09, Kiplimo seized the gold medal, replicating his feat from the previous year in Bathurst, Australia. His stellar performance surpassed the efforts of Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi and Kenyan Benson Kiplangat, who finished second and third with times of 28:12 and 28:14, respectively.
Noteworthy is Kiplimo’s historic win, marking Uganda’s third consecutive gold medal in the senior men’s category at the event, with Joshua Cheptegei securing the previous triumph in 2019.
In a tightly contested race for the award, Kiplimo garnered 265 votes, outshining cyclist Charles Kagimu (245 votes) and the badminton duo of Husinah Kobugabe and Gladys Mbabazi (180 votes).
Kiplimo, along with previous monthly awardees, will receive a plaque and monetary prize from USPA’s primary sponsor, Nile Breweries, at a forthcoming event later this year.
