Kipsiro last hope as focus shifts to Beijing
Aug 28, 2007
MOSES Kipsiro will tomorrow have to repeat his All Afica Games last-day heroics to save Uganda from returning from the World Championships without a medal.
Norman Katende
in Osaka, Japan
MOSES Kipsiro will tomorrow have to repeat his All Afica Games last-day heroics to save Uganda from returning from the World Championships without a medal.
The All Africa Games and African championship gold medallist takes to the track at 2.45pm, in a 5000m semi-final race that will give an indication as to whether Ugandans should continue hoping.
With Uganda celebrating only a bronze medal from badminton player Edwin Ekiring at the All Africa Games last month, Kipsiro stormed to a stunning victory for the country’s second medal on the last day of action.
Going by his showing at the Africa Games, Abraham Chepkirwok has an outside chance in the 800m.
Boniface Kiprop (10th) and Wilson Busienei (15th) were the latest Ugandans to drop out of the medal hunt on Monday. Justine Bayiga (400m), Alex Malinga and Amos Masai (marathon), and Benjamin Kiplagat (3000m SC) all failed to scale their first Osaka hurdles.
Kiprop, Malinga and Bayiga have however refused to let their performance at the World Championship in Osaka end their dreams of international acclaim, turning their focus to next year's Olympic Games in Beijing.
Bayiga, who could only manage fifth position in a 400m round one heat, was confident about the future.
“I tried my best. I will now take a month’s break before I start training to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games,†said Bayiga.
Marathoner Malinga (2:20:36), Bayiga (53.25) and Kiprop (28:30.99) were short of the 2:18:00, 52.35, and 28:10.00 Olympic qualifying marks respectively in Osaka. Malinga, Chepkirwok and Kiprop have however all already qualified in the past eight months and are just eager to prove they deserve their places.
“It was my maiden appearance and I am sure it will be good for me to race in Europe. My coach Noah Ssengendo is working to see that I am invited for some races,†added Bayiga, who has not yet hit the mark.
But Malinga, who is preparing for the Mumbai leg of the Standard Chartered Bank marathon, believes that he will be able to prove his form again before the close of qualifying in May.
“There is still time for me to prove myself†Malinga said.
Ethiopian world and Olympic 10,000 metres champion Kenenisa Bekele said yesterday that Beijing’s pollution could affect his preparations for next year’s Games.
“The weather conditions are not good, but this is not only for me, but for all,†Bekele told a news conference.
But both Bekele and his manager, former runner Jos Hermens, said the world record holder might alter his run-up to the Games because of the heat and pollution expected in Beijing.
“We have an A, B and C plan,†Hermens said in an interview. That could include training in another country or area, he indicated. “It is still a secret.â€
Today, Bernard Lagat and Alan Webb both bid to become the first American men’s world 1,500 metres champion.
in Osaka, Japan
MOSES Kipsiro will tomorrow have to repeat his All Afica Games last-day heroics to save Uganda from returning from the World Championships without a medal.
The All Africa Games and African championship gold medallist takes to the track at 2.45pm, in a 5000m semi-final race that will give an indication as to whether Ugandans should continue hoping.
With Uganda celebrating only a bronze medal from badminton player Edwin Ekiring at the All Africa Games last month, Kipsiro stormed to a stunning victory for the country’s second medal on the last day of action.
Going by his showing at the Africa Games, Abraham Chepkirwok has an outside chance in the 800m.
Boniface Kiprop (10th) and Wilson Busienei (15th) were the latest Ugandans to drop out of the medal hunt on Monday. Justine Bayiga (400m), Alex Malinga and Amos Masai (marathon), and Benjamin Kiplagat (3000m SC) all failed to scale their first Osaka hurdles.
Kiprop, Malinga and Bayiga have however refused to let their performance at the World Championship in Osaka end their dreams of international acclaim, turning their focus to next year's Olympic Games in Beijing.
Bayiga, who could only manage fifth position in a 400m round one heat, was confident about the future.
“I tried my best. I will now take a month’s break before I start training to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games,†said Bayiga.
Marathoner Malinga (2:20:36), Bayiga (53.25) and Kiprop (28:30.99) were short of the 2:18:00, 52.35, and 28:10.00 Olympic qualifying marks respectively in Osaka. Malinga, Chepkirwok and Kiprop have however all already qualified in the past eight months and are just eager to prove they deserve their places.
“It was my maiden appearance and I am sure it will be good for me to race in Europe. My coach Noah Ssengendo is working to see that I am invited for some races,†added Bayiga, who has not yet hit the mark.
But Malinga, who is preparing for the Mumbai leg of the Standard Chartered Bank marathon, believes that he will be able to prove his form again before the close of qualifying in May.
“There is still time for me to prove myself†Malinga said.
Ethiopian world and Olympic 10,000 metres champion Kenenisa Bekele said yesterday that Beijing’s pollution could affect his preparations for next year’s Games.
“The weather conditions are not good, but this is not only for me, but for all,†Bekele told a news conference.
But both Bekele and his manager, former runner Jos Hermens, said the world record holder might alter his run-up to the Games because of the heat and pollution expected in Beijing.
“We have an A, B and C plan,†Hermens said in an interview. That could include training in another country or area, he indicated. “It is still a secret.â€
Today, Bernard Lagat and Alan Webb both bid to become the first American men’s world 1,500 metres champion.