Jacob Kiplimo: Millions Ugandan Legend Pocketed for Sealing World Cross-Country Hat-Trick

Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo etched his name into the history books on Saturday, securing his third consecutive senior men's title at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida and it came with a bumper pay.

This remarkable victory places him in the elite company of legends like John Ngugi, Paul Tergat, and Kenenisa Bekele as only the fourth man to achieve this feat.

Kiplimo, who won his first world cross country gold in Bathurst, Australia in 2023 and defended it in Belgrade, Serbia in 2024, entered the race as the clear favourite. A win was not just expected; it was a chance to solidify his status as one of the defining runners of his generation.

The men's 10km race began at a controlled pace, with American Wesley Kiptoo and Uganda's Dan Kibet making their intentions known by pushing to the front early on. Australia's Ky Robinson also joined the leading pack, hoping to build on his country's earlier success in the mixed relay.

Throughout the initial stages, the defending champion Kiplimo remained relaxed and patient, comfortably positioned in the middle of the pack. Kiptoo continued to lead through the 3km mark, but the race dynamics began to shift as they approached the halfway point.

At the 4km mark, Ethiopia’s Tadese Worku surged to the front, pulling Kiplimo, Kenya's Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, and others with him. As they crossed the 5km mark, Worku held a slight lead over Ebenyo, but Kiplimo soon made his move, taking control of the race for the first time.

The lead changed hands several times, with Ethiopia's Berihu Aregawi, Spain's Thierry Ndikumwenayo, and France's Jimmy Gressier all vying for the top spot. However, as the race entered its latter stages past the 6km mark, Kiplimo began to assert his dominance, increasing the pace. Only Ebenyo seemed capable of matching the Ugandan's relentless push, with Worku falling back to third.

By the 7km mark, it was clear the race was becoming a two-man battle between Kiplimo and Ebenyo. Yet, Aregawi, a two-time silver medalist, was not ready to concede and fought his way back into contention.

As the bell lap approached the 9km mark, the contest narrowed to Kiplimo and Aregawi. In a decisive final push, Kiplimo broke away, crossing the finish line in 28:18 to claim his historic third title. Aregawi had to settle for silver once again with a time of 28:36, while Daniel Simiu Ebenyo earned his first-ever cross-country medal by finishing third.

Following the win, Kiplimo is assured nearly UGX110 million as the prize money for individual winners was $30,000 (UGX108,021,146) at the 2026 World Championships.