By Douglas Mazune

ANNET Negesa is the ‘hottest’ female athlete in Uganda at the moment.

Never short of female talent to showcase at the Nile Special USPA Awards Gala, Uganda Athletics Federation, has churned out Negesa as Dorcus Inzikuru appears to gradually fade out.

It is certainly Negesa’s time to rise and shine. A slot on the nomination list for the 2011 Sports Person of the Year Award is testimony of a great season she had.

On her debut in the World Junior Championships, she raced to 800m bronze in Moncton, Canada.

In May, Negesa won two gold medals in 800m and 1500m races at the Africa Junior Athletics Championships in Gaborone, Botswana.

She outpaced Kenyan Nancy Chepkwemoi in the 1500m final to clinch double gold.

Negesa demonstrated that she was more than a junior when she won 800m gold at the All Africa Games in Maputo Mozambique.

Back home, she clocked 28.19 minutes to win the Cross Country senior race, upsetting household names like Dorcus Inzikuru.

The 19-year-old Kyambogo University student will run neck-to-neck with Susan ‘Super Lady’ Muwonge (first female national motor rally champion), Moses Kipsiro (All Africa 5000m gold medalist) and badminton star Edwin Ekiring (All Africa silver).

She may not be a clear favourite but a very strong contender for the 2011 award.

She might want to start rehearsing her smile for the camera.