Cheptegei had appeared on course to claim the world title in Uganda’s capital Kampala in 2017, only to dramatically plummet to 30th in the final kilometre.

Recent major championships have proved more fruitful for the 22-year-old, who earned double gold at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast over the 5,000 metres and 10,000m distances, as well as World Championship silver in the longer event in 2017.

A run for redemption at the World Cross-Country Championships saw pacing prove as key as it had two years ago at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) event.

The heat and humidity of Uganda was replaced with the energy-sapping climb up the grass roof of Moesgaard Museum, with a mud pit and water section among the additional challenges faced by runners.

A five-man leading group emerged during the third of five laps of the gruelling race, with Cheptegei joined by compatriot Jacob Kiplimo.

Their main rival proved to be Geoffrey Kamworor, the Kenyan seeking to win a third straight title.

Kamworor, a three-time half-marathon world champion, was forced to work hard to stay with the Ugandans as the climbs took their toll.

The defence of his crown came to an end in the final lap of the 10km event, as Cheptegei and Kiplimo pulled away.

Cheptegei eventually edged clear of his team-mate to become the first Ugandan winner of the men’s elite title in 31 min, 40 sec.

Kiplimo crossed the line four seconds later, with Kamworor ending in 31:55 to clinch bronze.

Cheptegei and Kiplimo’s efforts also helped Uganda clinch the team title on 20 points, marking the first time since 1980 that neither Kenya or Ethiopia had been crowned winners.

Both nations still made the podium with Kenya second on 43 points, three clear of Ethiopia.

The women’s elite race, contested over four laps, saw a three-woman lead group emerge.

Kenya’s world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri was seeking to secure gold on her debut appearance at the Championships.

She faced a duel with Ethiopian pair Dera Dida and Letesenbet Gidey, with the trio battling for victory in the closing stages.

Obiri ensured the title went to a Kenyan runner for the seventh straight edition of the Championships, as she sprinted to the line to triumph in 36:14.

The result made Obiri the first woman to have won individual senior titles on the track outdoors, indoors and in cross-country.

She finished two seconds clear of the second-place Dida, the Ethiopian national champion.

Gidey won bronze in 36:24.

The silver and bronze medals helped Ethiopia clinch the women’s team title with 21 points, while Kenya were second on 25.

Uganda were the third on 36 points.

The women’s under-20 race produced the most dramatic finish of the day as five runners entered the finishing straight together to launch a sprint for the podium places in the near 6,000m event.

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet eventually raised her hands in delight after appearing to cross the line in first place, flanked by Ethiopia’s Alemitu Tariku and Tsigie Gebreselama.

Her celebration temporarily looked costly, as Chebet was deemed to have finished third with Tariku taking the title.

But Chebet was reprieved when a photo finish confirmed she had triumphed, with the Kenyan awarded the same time as Tariku and Gebreselama, the silver and bronze medallists, respectively.

Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat, a gold medallist at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, missed out on the medals despite ending just one second behind the winner.

The team title was earned by Ethiopia after they scored 17 points, with Kenya and Japan completing the top three on 26 and 72, respectively.

Milkesa Mengesha led an Ethiopian one-two in the near 8,000m men’s under-20 race, as he topped the standings in 23:52.

His team-mate Amdework Walelegn ended two seconds behind, while Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo won bronze a further second back.

It was the first time since 1984 that Kenya had not earned a medal in the event.

The same year was the last time a European had won the race and their wait continued, with their top finisher, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, ending 12th.

The Norwegian, a double European Championship medallist on the track last year, had been tipped as a potential challenger to the African nations’ dominance.

Ethiopia topped the team standings on 18 points, followed by Uganda and Kenya on 32 and 34, respectively.

The second edition of the mixed relay competition saw Ethiopia emerge clear winners.

Their team of Kebede Endal, Bone Cheluke, Teddese Lemi and Fantu Worku triumphed in 25:49.

Morocco took silver in 26:22, while Kenya rounded off the top three in 26.29.