By Norman Katende
Athlete-of-the-Year-awards short-list
Overall: S. Kiprotich, S. Nambawa and B. Kiplagat
Upcoming female: W. Nannyondo, E. .Acan, M. Banura, P. Mirembe
Upcoming male: M. Cherop, A. Mande and M. Kurong
MOSES Kipsiro will for the first time in five years miss out on the final list of the athlete-of-year award, as Benjamin Kiplagat makes a comeback to the podium at an awards dinner to be sponsored by MTN at Serena Hotel on Friday.
Kipsiro, one of Uganda’s top finished the season with no accolade for his cabinet.
The athlete won a double 5000m and 10000m gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the All Africa gold medal in Maputo in 2011.
London 2012 Olympic Games gold medallist Stephen Kiprotich, Africa triple jump champion Sarah Nambawa and bronze medallist Kiplagat complete the shortlist for the Athlete of the Year.
“They were looking at achievements, and like any athlete, Kipsiro had a bad season,” reasoned the national athletics federation publicity secretary Namayo Mawerere as the shortlist was released.
Kiprotich is favourite to scoop the top award just a day before he is also headed for the Nile Special/USPA Sports Personality of the Year award at Imperial Royale Hotel.
Nambawa, who missed out of the award last season, came back after she won the triple jump gold in Benin. Kiplagat, who was last at the podium in 2008 when he won a World Junior silver medal in Bydgoszcz, Poland is also on the final three.
