Uganda Achieves Double Victory at Cardiff Cross Challenge

A month after hosting its largest half marathon to date, Cardiff was the venue for a premier cross country competition in the United Kingdom. Uganda’s Charity Cherop and Keneth Kiprop emerged victorious in the senior races. The Cardiff Cross Challenge, held on Saturday at Llandaff Fields, attracted 2,500 participants, including elite international athletes competing alongside local club runners. This event, now in its 27th year, forms part of the British Athletics Cross Country Challenge Series, serving as a qualifier for athletes aiming to compete in the European Cross Country Championship in Liverpool next month. Uganda achieved a double triumph in the senior races, with Keneth Kiprop successfully defending his men’s title and Charity Cherop securing the women’s championship. Kiprop completed the men’s event in 27:06, once more surpassing Kenya’s Vincent Mutai, while Uganda’s Daniel Kibet secured the third-place position. Cheprop finished the women’s shorter course in 20:15, narrowly beating Kenya’s Sheila Jebet and Belgrave Harrier’s Kate Axford. Local athlete Cari Hughes placed fourth, trailing Cheprop by only 10 seconds. Hughes commented on her performance, stating, “I didn’t really know what to expect, it’s the first one of the season. In off season I did a big block of five weeks in St Moritz, so I am really happy to come away with fourth. [Cross Country] is good fun, it’s more relaxed than the track. I actually really loved the course, it’s fast and the hills are tough, but it makes it fun.” International athletes convened in Cardiff for the competition. The highest-ranked Welsh competitor in the men’s senior race was Dafydd Jones of Swansea Harrier, who secured 11th place with a time of 28:02. Jones shared his thoughts on the event, saying, “It was a really good field. There were a fair few Europeans here, a lot of the Dutch guys, and a fair few East Africans as well. So, I felt like it was a good field to compare myself to. It’s actually really encouraging that Wales is putting on such a great cross country event. It’s a really good course. I feel like every year it sort of changes, depending on the conditions. It was a fast course today, quite a few firm spots and few muddy spots. It’s testing, but it’s quick.”