Throwers win gold in Dar es Salam

Uganda Athletics Federation is going to invest more in field coaches to develop the eastern region junior gold medallists so that they  can compete at international level.

Uganda participated in the regional championships that attracted 10 of the 11 countries and they managed to finish second behind   Kenya.

Uganda won four gold medals courtesy of three fielders.  Bayan Odong (shot put and discus) and Moses Oceng (javelin) won in the men's event while Josephine Lalam won Javelin in the for women category.

Federation president Domenic Otuchet noted that winning medals in the field event at the junior championships shows that there is a future in the field events and the federation is going to work harder to ensure that they get more field coaches to improve on these talents.

"We have put more focus in training coaches for the track and jump events. Our focus this year is to train more throw coaches so that we can also catch them when they are still young.  All this budding talents need to have good coaches," said Otuchet.

National coach Abdallah Muhammed said that  the Javelin throwers have a promising season and are most likely to hit the qualifying mark for the Africa  Senior Athletics championships.

Uganda had another Javelin thrower Patrick Kibwota who rocked the junior, beating Kenya's Julius Yego in 2009 though he shrieked out as Yego went on to win the world title last year.

"We are going to follow up all these stars and ensure that they get the basic training as a means  of seeing that  this talent is now dwarfed at its beginning," said  Otuchet.

Junior athletes Mercyline Chelangat and Martin Musau managed to hit the qualifying mark for the IAAF World U-20 track and field championships, as they will go straight to camp to start preparing for the event.

The world event is due in Bydgoszcz, Poland July 19-24; the duo will be joining other athletes in camp at either Bukwo or Kapchorwa to start preparations.

"They are not going to go back home because they will lose focus but we are going to draw up a programme for them where they will start training with a target of putting up a good performance," said Abdallah Muhammad, the head of coaches in Uganda Athletics Federation.

The technical team is looking at seeing that Uganda continues with its podium finish in the world event, having won a gold medal courtesy of Joshua Cheptegei in the last event in Oregon two years back.

"We are going to look for finance and ensure that the team trains well. We are looking at seeing them train to the required standards," said Domenic Otuchet, UAF president.

National Council of Sports promised more help to see that such talents are developed so that they reach international competitive standards, which is the future of athletics in the country.