Chekwel qualifies for Rio Olympics

Apr 25, 2016

She becomes the second Ugandan woman to qualify for the Olympic Games after Adero Nyakisi.

Rubeira Meet, Italy

1 Giovanni Auciello   29: 54.59

2 Riccardo Passeri 29: 57.26

3 Francesco Bona 29: 59.0

4 Juliet Chekwel 31: 37.99

5 Barbara Bressi 34: 40.71.

Uganda past women 10000m record

2013 Juliet Chekwel 32:57.02

2014 Linnet Toroitich 32:41.95

2015 Juliet Chekwel 32:20.95

2016 Juliet Chekwel 31:37.99

Juliet  Chekwel qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by setting a new national women's 10000m record in an  inter-club race at Rubeira  in  Italy on Sunday.

She becomes the second Ugandan woman  to qualify for the Olympic Games after  Adero Nyakisi.

The first race for the distance runner this season saw her finish fourth after clocking 31 minutes 37.99 seconds.

The was inside the Olympic qualifying time of 32 minutes 15 seconds. It was an improvement on her old record of 32:20.95.

It was a tough race in cold temperatures and windy conditions which saw Chekwel stay with the lead pack but not after the 8500m mark as they started to pull away..

"It was a cold race and very tough. At least the qualification eases the pressure as I can now start focussing on seeing that I improve before the Olympic Games," she said.

Chekwel, who had earlier said that she was shifting her focus to steeplechase ruled out competing in that race this season saying that it is better for her to focus on the track.

Chekwel has been training in Italy since January.

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