Athletes get chance to impress

TBAC Invitational Meeting
Date: Saturday 3pm-5pm
Venue: Mandela National Stadium

The first TBAC Invitational meeting presents athletes with yet another opportunity to underline their credentials as genuine contenders to represent Uganda at the World Athletics Championships.

Some prize money will also be at stake for the top eight athletes in each race with individual winners carrying home sh80,000. Cash prizes aside, the Namboole meeting has a rich cast of competitors including national 1500m record holder Ronald Musagala.

The middle-distance and long-distance runner, knocked over two seconds off his national record (3:35.02) a fortnight ago, to cap a successful week during which he also qualified for the World Athletics Championships in London. Racing at the FBK Games in the Netherlands, the 24-year-old native of Iganga, 119km from Kampala, came in third with a time of 3:33.65 to smash the national record.

Uganda Prisons runner Jimmy Adar and seasoned Abu Mayanja of Uganda Wildlife Authority club will be Musagala's main rivals in the 1500m race today. But what sets Musagala apart from the rest is his tenacity. A fortnight ago, his coach Rapahel Kasajja said he will not be surprised if Musagala breaks the national record again.

"Breaking the national record was one of our targets this season and I can tell you he will do it again," said the coach who sounded excited.

Mercyline Chelangat (5000m) is another London bound runner who will feature in today's action.

TBAC (Tartan Burner Athletics Club), which is behind this invitational meet, sanctioned by Uganda Athletics Federation was launched three years ago by local athletics enthusiasts Robert Egessa and Mildred Gamba who once competed for Uganda.