Musagala to race first in Moscow

By James Bakama

World Championships (August 10-18)

RONALD Musagala will be the first Ugandan on track at the World Athletics Championships starting next week in Moscow. 

Musagala is lined up in the heats of the 800 meters starting at 10.20 in the Luzhniki stadium on the first day of the 14th edition of the biennial event.

The Kampala University student, who will be appearing in his first international competition, is not shaken by the magnitude of the occasion.

“It is a big stage and being the first Ugandan in action will also be a big challenge but I will still give the occasion my best effort,” said Musagala after a morning training session at Namboole.

Musagala who was the last Ugandan to hit the Moscow grade, is optimistic that the world meet will improve his status.

“I should be able to improve on my personal best,” noted the runner who clocked one minute 45.71 minutes at the national championship.

His time is rated at 52 among the world’s fastest times this season. American Duane Solomon so far has the season’s fastest time at 1:43.27.

Musagala’s coach Raphael Kasaja is confident his runner can dip under 1:45.00. 

“He is fit. And also remember that he almost fell on the day he qualified. I see him running a better time in Moscow.”

Showing all signs of a man who is never intimidated by the big stage, Musagala insists that he would have loved to run against world record holder David Rudisha.

The Kenyan star, who is also the Olympic champion, is ruled out injured.