Who is Chekwemoi, Uganda's teen steeplechase sensation?

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Promising teenage runner Loice Chekwemoi is neither a prominent figure nor a new name in the athletics world, at least in Uganda.

The 18-year-old only came to surprise many spectators at the just concluded 23rd African Senior Athletics Championships at Stade Omnisport de Japoma, Douala in Cameroon when she beat Kenyan and Ethiopian opponents to take gold in the 3000m steeplechase race.

In her maiden senior appearance at a competition of this level, Chekwemoi ran to the finishing tape almost unchallenged in 9:24.47 minutes, beating Ethiopia’s Alemnat Wale, who came second at a distance in 9:35.19, and Kenya’s Leah Kibet, who settled for bronze after clocking 9:36.33 minutes.

Loice Chekwemoi had a breakthrough when she won the ISF 1500m gold in Belgrade Serbia in 2021. (Courtesy Photo)

"This is the first time I've taken part in the African senior championships, and I'm very happy to win the gold medal. I was really prepared for this,” the happy Chekwemoi said after her triumph.

Her performance may still yet land her a dream qualification for the Olympic Games coming up in Paris, France, as she has been listed by the Uganda Athletics Federation standby group of athletes for the lucrative games, waiting to see if she can qualify by ranking.

How she started

Before the Douala heroics, Chekwemoi had been promisingly growing into an athlete Uganda would look at in her right time for international fame, under the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) development ranks.

The Chamanga SS student had picked up middle-distance races and specialised in the 1500m, where she won several national and FEASSA competitions. This was an understudy development.

Chekwemoi would then break through as a renowned young middle-distance runner at the USSSA level when she won gold in the 1500m at the 2021 post-COVID-19 International Schools Sports Association (ISF) U15 Gymnasiade games in Belgrade, Serbia.

Loice Chekwemoi during the 2000m steeplechase where she won Gold. (Courtesy Photo)

It was Uganda’s first major international schools competition appearance, and her contribution saw the country finish 2nd overall in Africa rankings behind Namibia and 7th overall.

Chekwemoi would then upgrade to the 2000m steeplechase at the ISF level, as there is no 3000m steeplechase category at this level. She also took part in cross-country tests.

It did not take her long before heroically racing to her second international gold at the 2022 ISF Cross Country Championship held in the Slovakian city of Štrbské Pleso.

Having travelled to Slovakia as a favourite, Chekwemoi did not disappoint, as she ran tactfully to beat strong opposition from Morocco and hit the tape at 09:59.00, with Moroccan Birdaha Fatima coming behind at 10:01.00, while Ugandan Maureen Chebet settled for bronze at 10:04.00.

In January 2022, Chekwemoi competed in the National Cross Country Championship in Tororo and finished second for silver in 20:05.09 minutes, a couple of seconds behind winner Scarlet Chebet.

3000m steeplechase

Chekwemoi would now be identified by the local athletics body as a promising 3000m steeplechase runner.

She took part in the national trials, with her first national trial coming in April 2021, where she finished 2nd in 10:44.04 minutes before winning the race in the 2022 trials with an improved time of 10:19.82 minutes.

Loice Chekwemoi had a breakthrough when she won the ISF 1500m gold in Belgrade Serbia in 2021. (Courtesy Photo)

At the ISF Gymnasiade at Stade Helitas, Caen, Normandy in France, Chekwemoi ran to the 2000m steeplechase gold in a time of 6:36.22 minutes before finishing 6th in the August 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships at Pascual Guerrero Stadium in Cali, Colombia, with a much better time of 10:05.01.

She made personal best (PB) times in both the heats (10:07.0) and finals (10:05.01), having qualified with a 10:18.03.

Last year in April, she made the Uganda team of juniors to the CAA championship in Ndola, Zambia, but was unsuccessful as she finished 5th in 6:31.12 minutes.

Her great finish in Douala gives her a positive look at the future, even though she did not qualify for her dream international competition, the Olympics, due this month in Paris, France. Her future is bright.

Chekwemoi at a glance

Date of birth: December 12, 2006

Place of birth: Kapawu, Kasero, Kasero sub-county, Kween district

School: Chemanga Seed SS

Class: S.5

Family: Her parents are Annet Chesagit and Patrick Rotich. Her sibling Victor Cherotich boasts several ISF 1500m & 3000m silverware.