Five athletes set for Africa Cross Country Championships

Feb 20, 2024

The selection was determined by the athletes' performances at the recently concluded National Cross Country Championships in Tororo.

Five athletes set for Africa Cross Country Championships

Olivia Nakate
Journalist @New Vision

Five athletes have been selected to represent Uganda at the upcoming Africa Cross Country Championships scheduled for February 25th in Tunisia. Former Commonwealth champion Moses Kipsiro has been named as the team coach, alongside Aggrey Ogol.

The selection was determined by the athletes' performances at the recently concluded National Cross Country Championships in Tororo. The top five athletes secured direct spots for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships. Consequently, the selected six athletes for the Africa Cross Country championships are those who finished between sixth and eleventh positions.

This appointment comes shortly after Kipsiro's decision to transition into coaching, aiming to sustain his legacy. Kipsiro, a former athlete, recently completed his initial coaching certifications in Kapchorwa at the end of January, facilitated by the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF).

However, Uganda will only be fielding a male team this time due to financial constraints and a packed schedule of events requiring the allocation of resources. Muhammad Abdallah, the publicity secretary, cited these reasons for the absence of a female team but emphasized Uganda's commitment to supporting the continental body, CAA.

Now at the age of 37, Kipsiro, a silver medalist at the 2009 World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan, is confident in his team's abilities to perform well in Tunisia, drawing from his wealth of experience.

Expressing gratitude to UAF for the opportunity, Kipsiro sees this coaching role as the beginning of many great endeavors. He stated, "The athletes we have chosen are familiar with the cross-country terrain and are well-versed in its demands. Despite the time constraints, we have opted for individualized training while closely monitoring their progress. I have full confidence in our team's capability to excel."

Abdallah praised Kipsiro's transition to coaching, emphasizing the federation's support for former athletes in pursuing coaching roles, indicating a pathway beyond their competitive careers.

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