Team Uganda athletes start journey back home

By Norman Katende in London

Men's 5000m final this Saturday

Some Team Uganda athletes are set to fly back home Thursday from London as the 2012 Olympics event draws closer to its end this Sunday.

Marathoner Jane Suuto and steeplechasers Benjamin Kiplagat, Jacob Araptany and Dorcus Inzikuru will be the first to leave.

The quartet is flying directly to Kampala Thursday evening before they can plan to travel to either Europe or back to their villages and relax as they settle on fresh resolutions for their career.

Kiplagat, who rammed into a hurdle in the 3000m steeplechase final, will take some rest before he thinks on concentrating on his future.

He had said that he would call off his European tour but medical analysis saw only his skin damaged and it is already healing.

“I will reach home and then think of what to do next,” he said.

Inzikuru has started walking, though she cannot wear closed shoes after her new pair left her with blisters, which seemed likely that she had called off her season.

The former world and Commonwealth champion had opted to use new spikes, saying she had lost the older one. It was later found that the old ones lacked screws and what she needed to do was to change the screws and not the shoes.

“She can now walk though one blister is yet to heal,” said the team coach Faustino Kiwa.

Initially she was also expected to go to Europe, together with Jacob Araptany for more international races as she continues to build on her comeback, but there is still uncertainty on how the programme will stand.

“For us we are sending all of them back home first. It is only Janet (Achola) who will be travelling to Italy for more races,” added Kiwa.

Achola is still in the village after failing to qualify from the first round of the women’s 1500m race.

However, Moses Kipsiro still has one last opportunity to redeem himself for a medal in the men's 5,000m final this Saturday.