Youth Olympic Games: Balimumiti braces for tough race

By Teddy Nakanjakko

Track and field - 800m

Friday 21:18 pm (3:18pm Ugandan time)

NANJING - Ugandan Geoffrey Balimumiti gets to the Nanjing Olympic Sports Stadium on Friday night to battle seven other athletes for a slot in the Monday final of the 800m of the 2nd Youth Olympic Games in the eastern city of China, Nanjing.

Having the fifth best time of heat 3, Balimumiti (1:52.66) will have to fight off Kenyan Anthony Kiptoo (1;46.80), Ryan Patterson (1:51.30) from Australia and Botswana’s Gorata Gabankitse (1:51.52) for it’s the first two of each heat that qualify for the final in Group A which is the medal group and the two fastest losers.

Coach Jimmy Issamat is optimistic that Balimumiti will qualify for the Group A final for he is in a tough heat that will give him good competition and may be a fast race that will also help him better his time.

In this competition, the first 8 athletes in qualification round will progress to the A final; the rest will be divided among the other finals according to their times.

With seven days set for athletics, the first three days are for qualifications in the different track and field events while the next four are for finals.

Janat Chemusto, with a new personal best in the qualifying round, qualified for the Sunday 3000m final and the 16-year old will be looking at winning a medal for the country.