Uganda's long-and middle distance athletes set for 10K Valencia Ibercaja

Jan 03, 2022

A contingent of six established athletes is traveling to Spain to premier the season in the 10K Valencia Ibercaja.

Ugandan female athletes training in Kapchorwa. Photo by Silas Omagor

Javier Silas Omagor
Journalist @New Vision

Uganda's long-and middle distance athletes are set to start this new year in Spain.

A contingent of six established athletes is traveling to Spain to premier the season in the 10K Valencia Ibercaja.

Those departing the country ahead of the event include; Joshua Cheptegei, Prisca Chesang, Esther Chebet, Belinda Chemutai, Rogers Kibet, and Abel Sikowo.

All the six selected athletes are under the Dutch-based Global Sports Communication Management and are part of their Ugandan headquarters in Kapchorwa.

The group has been training together in Kapchorwa, Kween, Bukwo, and Bulambuli districts.

The four Eastern districts provide athletes with a high altitude that starts at about 2500m above sea level and goes higher than any other training place in East Africa.

Chebet, one of those traveling, told Vision Sports that the high altitude has been helpful in their preparations since it reduces oxygen intake while helping them build endurance levels.

“It helps us a lot in ensuring that we adapt to foreign weather conditions and also terrains so easily and quickly. So, we are ready for Spain,” Chebet said.

Their training program majored in endurance, speed, strength, finishing techniques, and injury prevention tactics.

“Running in Europe is always a good feeling and there is no better way to start the year,” Sikowo, a promising long-distance runner who is one of the pace-setters for Cheptegei in the recent past.

Unlike the rest, Sikowo is expected to race in the capital Madrid.

“This will be my first race as a mainstay rather than being a pacesetter. Am extremely excited to get the opportunity to show my potential,” Sikowo said.

The group will join their Global Sports Communications coach Addy Ruiter who traveled to Europe late last week to prepare for the event.

During his pre-event exclusive interview with Vision Sports, Ruiter expressed confidence in his athletes whom he said were in good shape mentally and physically.

“We have had good training sessions in the last three months and each one of those traveling has hit their fitness peak,” the celebrated Dutch coach said.

“What we want is to use this Valencia event to test their competitiveness against the very best out there in the world,” Ruiter explained.  

The coach emphasized that the Valencia event is timely because most of the athletes had not competed for several months due to injuries, official holidays, or Covid-19 restrictive factors.

Speaking of the event, Cheptegei said: “It’s one of those tests that no runner should miss and it will be an opportunity to race against the very best in the world.”

The 10K Valencia Ibercaja is a massive urban race with more than 3,000 registered annually. 

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