In the thriving realm of Ugandan running, the Mount Elgon region serves as a significant hub for talent. However, it took time for this talent to blossom due to Uganda’s tumultuous history. While Kenya experienced relative stability after gaining independence in 1963, Uganda was engulfed in war during the 1970s and 1980s. Mount Elgon became a breeding ground for lawlessness, with bandits from neighboring tribes conducting raids on cattle, often resulting in the loss of lives.
Furthermore, the region lagged behind in terms of modernization. Until the 1990s, athletes like Cheptegei, Kiplimo, and Chemutai had ancestors who lived deep within the forests of Mount Elgon’s upper belt. These individuals belonged to the Sabaot tribe and relied on milk, honey, and meat from hunted antelope and buffalo for sustenance. Situated at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the lack of infrastructure, including roads and schools, hindered their potential in competitive athletics. Nonetheless, endurance held great value in their community, demonstrated through their method of persistence hunting, which involved chasing animals until they overheated.
Kiplimo, hailing from a family of renowned runners, had the potential to compete in the 5,000 and 10,000-meter races in Budapest until he suffered a hamstring injury. His lineage is particularly distinguished, with his grandfather known as Simba, meaning Lion, due to his exceptional hunting skills.
By the time the current generation of Ugandan running stars was born, significant changes had taken place. In 1983, the government resettled the Mosopisiek group downslope from the forest to establish a national park, leading most of them to become small-scale farmers. Although the resettlement process was traumatic, it played a pivotal role in unlocking the running talent within the Elgon region. Children gained access to competitions through schools, and by the early 2000s, athletes from this area began making appearances in World Championship and Olympic finals.
Dorcus Inzikuru, a runner from Uganda’s north, became the country’s first champion during this period when she emerged victorious in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. The turning point for the Elgon region arrived seven years later when Stephen Kiprotich, a native of Kapchorwa, secured a surprising triumph in the marathon at the 2012 London Olympics, earning Uganda its first Olympic gold since 1972. Kiprotich further solidified his status by claiming another marathon title in Moscow the following year.
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