NATIONAL STARS: Boniface Kiprop (822), Dorcus Inzikuru (1711) and Dorcus Chesang will lead teams to Mombasa

By Norman Katende
X-country winners
Senior men (12km)
B. Kiprop (Standard) 35:58.1
Senior women (8km)
D. Inzikuru (Arua) 27:45.9
Junior men (8km)
G. Kusuro (Arua) 23:10.7
Junior women (6km)
D. Chesang (Arua) 20:25.2

ALL indications are that Uganda will put up a great show at next month’s World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya.

The national cross country championship in Sironko on Saturday produced exciting results and times, indicating that Uganda’s senior men team led by Boniface Kiprop, and the women’s by Dorcus Inzikuru, are ready to take on the Ethiopians and Kenyans.

Kiprop, 22, sweated to win the senior men 12km event, only edging Moses Kipsiro, 20, at the tape. The duo crossed the finishing line together but Kiprop, who was sprinting from behind was declared winner as per IAAF rules.

Kiprop has previously won a bronze medal and two silver medals as an individual junior runner, but has never got a cross country championship podium finish as a senior.

The men’s team will likely be backed by Wilson Busienei, who was Uganda’s best performer in last year’s cross country held in the Japanese city of Fukuoka, if he recovers in time.

The junior men’s team also looks competitive, with a foundation of three stars Geoffrey Kusuro, 17, Fred Arapsudi, 17, and Stephen Kiprotich, 17.
“We are targeting at having more athletes in camp and at the end of the day, only those who will be fit will make it to Mombasa. The technical committee is to meet and name those to enter camp. We will listen to the coach’s advice,” said local athletics federation secretary Beatrice Ayikoru.

Teams selected
Senior men: B. Kiprop, M. Kipsiro, I. Kiprop, J. Kibet, R. Soibei, F. Musani
Senior women: D. Inzikuru, C. Webombesa, E. Chebet, J. Suuto
Junior men: G. Kusuro, S. Kiprotich, F. Arapsudi, S. Ngabirano
Junior women: D. Chesang, F. Chelangat, M. Chelangat, V. Cheruos.