Kiprotich heads to Netherlands in search of Olympics qualification

Apr 14, 2021

The 2012 London Olympic gold medalist Kiprotich and the six Ugandans are among a strong field of 35 top-class elite runners lined up for the marathon.

Kiprotich heads to Netherlands in search of Olympics qualification

Michael Nsubuga
Sports journalist @New Vision

Marathoner Stephen Kiprotich leads a team of six other runners to the Netherlands to compete in the NN Mission Marathon in Enschede on Saturday.

The 2012 London Olympic gold medalist Kiprotich and the six Ugandans are among a strong field of 35 top-class elite runners lined up for the marathon that will also include Kenyan great Eliud Kipchoge.

The other Ugandans include National Record holder Filex Chemonges, Jackson Kiprop, Victor Kiplangat, Geoffrey Kusuro and Benard Cheptoch.

The mission for the Ugandan runners is to hit better qualification marks for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics that will provide them a chance to win one of the three slots available on the Uganda team for the games.

This is the third Ugandan group that UAF has sent for international outings in a bid to have them improve their individual world rankings ahead of the on-going qualification window for Tokyo Olympics.

The deadline for qualification for the marathon is set for the end of this month.

Uganda registered one marathon Olympic qualifier, Immaculate Chemutai in 2:29:09 during the Xiamen International Marathon on April 11 in Italy. Fred Musobo finished 15th in a time of 2:08.24 to also qualify for the men’s marathon.

Shida Leni and Emmanuel Osuje were also in Zambia on Sunday where they posted 52.77 over 400m to finish fourth and first in his 1500 heat in1:47.30 respectively, but outside the Olympic qualifying mark by 2.10 microseconds.

Leni’s time was 1.30 microseconds slower than her personal best and national record of 51.47,  though she has already beaten the Olympics qualifying time of 55.40 before.

 

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